Transient ischaemic attacks: mimics and chameleons

Transient ischaemic attacks: mimics and chameleons

Suspected transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a common diagnostic challenge for physicians in neurology, stroke, general medicine and primary care. It is essential to identify TIAs promptly because of the very high early risk of ischaemic stroke, requiring urgent investigation and preventive treatment. On the other hand, it is also important to identify TIA 'mimics', to avoid unnecessary and ex...

Transient ischaemic attacks.

Each day, about 25 Australians experience a transient ischaemic attack of the brain or eye. These people need to be distinguished from those who suffer "funny turns" due to other causes because, as a group, they have a significant risk of stroke and other vascular events. This risk can be substantially reduced through control of vascular risk factors, use of long term antithrombotic medication ...

Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks.

Stroke and transient ischaemic attacks.

accounts for about 5% ofNHS hospital costs. Stroke is the commonest cause of severe physical disability. About 100 000 people suffer a first stroke each year in England and Wales. It is important to emphasise that around 20-25% of all strokes affects people under 65 years of age. The annual incidence of stroke is two per 1000.' About 10% of all patients suffer a recurrent stroke within one year...

Myelopathy: chameleons and mimics.

The diagnosis of spinal cord disease may be delayed or missed if the presentation does not conform to the expected pattern of a symmetrical spastic paraparesis with sphincter dysfunction and a sensory level. This may occur when a myelopathy has yet to evolve fully, or is highly asymmetrical, as in Brown-Séquard syndrome. Other potential distractions include fluctuating symptoms, as may accompan...