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Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensities in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack
Marcelo Marinho de Figueiredo1, Edson Amaro Júnior2, Maramélia Araújo de Miranda Alves1
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Summary
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVHs) are observed in 16.7% of transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. These findings may correlate with atrial fibrillation, not solely large vessel disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVHs) are common in acute ischemic stroke, potentially indicating hemodynamic impairment due to intracranial steno-occlusive disease.
- Limited research exists on FVHs in patients experiencing transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of FVHs in TIA patients.
- To explore the clinical correlations of FVHs in TIA.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and vascular imaging were performed on TIA patients within 30 hours of symptom onset.
- Two neuroradiologists independently assessed for FVHs.
- Relationships between FVHs, clinical factors, and vascular imaging findings were analyzed.
Main Results:
- FVHs were identified in 16.7% of 72 TIA patients.
- No significant difference in intracranial or cervical arterial stenosis was found between patients with and without FVH.
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) was the only independent clinical variable associated with FVH in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- FVHs on FLAIR MRI occur in TIA patients and may correlate with clinical factors such as AF.
- FVHs in TIA patients with AF could signify spontaneously recanalized large vessel occlusion or impaired autoregulation.
