Recent advances in the management of transient ischemic attacks

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) constitutes an important clinical condition, indicating the presence of considerable risk for a subsequent ischemic stroke. Its prompt diagnosis and management have the potential for reducing the risk of neurologic disability, highlighting the critical need to prioritize the care of patients with TIA. The risk of ischemic stroke following a TIA is directly related to its etiopathogenesis, and recognizable causes are commonly categorized within one of three domains: cerebrovascular pathology, cardiac dysfunction, and hematologic disorders. Therefore, the clinical approach to patients suspected of having suffered a TIA demands a comprehensive evaluation, including testing of possible etiologic conditions in all three of these domains, best carried out in an expedited fashion since the stroke risk is greatest in the hours and days that follow the index event. The present is a review of the existing literature addressing the diagnosis, evaluation, prioritization, and management strategies available to clinicians who provide care to patients with TIA.