Wang WW, et al. – This study carried out a scrutiny of how the characteristics of prior transient ischemic attack (TIA) exerted a neuroprotective impact on patients with ischemic stroke. It was observed that prior TIAs possibly displayed a neuroprotective effect on the subsequent ischemic stroke. This, in turn, could be influenced by the characteristics of TIAs. Such patients exhibiting low frequency, short duration and short interval appeared to display better neurological outcomes.

Methods

• The enrollment consisted of 221 patients admitted consecutively to a primary care center for first-ever ischemic stroke.
• The candidates were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of prior TIAs.
• The initial NIHSS modified Rankin Scale estimated the severity and disability after the stroke.
• Subgroups were based on the TIA duration (< 10 min, 10 to 60 min, and > 60 min), TIA frequency (1 time, 2-3 times, more than 3 times), and the interval of stroke (< 1 week, 1-4 weeks, > 4 weeks).
• A comparison was performed of the severity of the neurologic picture on admission and functional disability after stroke between patients with and without TIAs and subgroups as well.

Results

• 132 (59.73%) of the 221 patients reported prior TIAs before stroke.
• There was no variation between the risk factors and the initial clinical picture among patients with or without TIAs.
• Patients with prior TIA displayed a more favorable outcome than those without TIA (59.09% vs. 43.82%).
• There was a notable change between the two groups (x² = 4.976, p = 0.026).
• The neurological outcome in patients with prior TIA lasting for 60 min, less than 3 times and shorter intervals within 4 weeks varied considerably from that in the non-TIA group (p < 0.05).