Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Triage and Evaluation of Stroke Risk

Completed

Conditions studied: Cerebrovascular Accident

In brief

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient neurological deficit (speech disturbance, weakness…), caused by temporary occlusion of a brain vessel by a blood clot that leaves no lasting effect. TIA diagnosis can be challenging and an expert stroke evaluation combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could improve the diagnosis accuracy. The risk of a debilitating stroke can be as high as 5% during the first 72 hrs after TIA. TIA characteristics (duration, type of symptoms, age of the patient), the presence of a significant narrowing of the neck vessels responsible for the patient's symptoms (symptomatic stenosis), and an abnormal MRI are associated with an increased risk of stroke. An emergent evaluation and treatment of TIA patients by a stroke specialist could reduce the risk of stroke to 2%. Stanford has implemented an expedited triage pathway for TIA patients combining a clinical evaluation by a stroke neurologist, an acute MRI of the brain and the vessels and a sampling of biomarkers (Lp-PLA2). The investigators are investigating the yield of this unique approach to improve TIA diagnosis, prognosis and secondary stroke prevention. The objective of this prospective cohort study is to determine which factors will help the physician to confirm the diagnosis of TIA and to define the risk of stroke after a TIA.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01423201

Run by

Stanford University

People needed

262

Starts

2010-09-01

Expected to finish

2017-11-02

Last updated by the study team

2019-04-11

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Men and Women age greater than 18 year old
• Symptoms suggestive of an acute TIA

You may not qualify if…

• Patients with contraindication to brain imaging: MRI and CT.
• Patient with persistent major deficit (NIHSS> or = 4)
• Informed consent could not be obtained either directly from the patient or from legally authorized representative.
• Severe coexisting or terminal systemic disease with like expectancy below 90 days or that may interfere with the conduct of the study.

Where it is running

• UC Davis Medical Center — Davis, California, United States
• Stanford University School of Medicine — Stanford, California, United States
• Michigan State University — Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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