[Prevalence and prognostic value of transient ischemic complication preceding cerebral infarction]

To evaluate the prevalence, the aetiological profile and the neurological consequences at day 15 of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) before a cerebral infarction, we undertook survey from 1985 to 1991, on 1,149 cases with cerebral infarction observed on the population of Dijon. On 1,149 cases, 275 (24%) were preceded by a TIA. Fifty seven cases were lacunar infarcts (20.7%) and 218 were cortical infarcts (79.3%). On the aetiological point of view, the group with 275 infarctions preceded by a TIA was statistically different from the group of 874 infarctions without any TIA, with higher blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, tobacco abuse and ischaemic cardiac disease history. Only 65 out of 275 infarctions preceded by one TIA (23.6%) had a perfect territorial relationship between the 2 attacks, and 210 out of 275 (76.4%) had no territorial relationship. While the Barthel score at day 15 was similar within the 2 groups, inversely, pseudo-bulbar syndrome was significantly more frequent in the first group. Former TIA does not increase the general handicap resulting from a cerebral infarct, nevertheless it gives rise to a pseudo-bulbar syndrome.