Clinical Features of Stroke

Transient Ischemic Attack

Transient ischemic attack (TIA), as a classic definition, is a neurological deficit that causes neurological symptoms and signs as a result of focal ischemia in the brain and retina but does not cause infarction and lasts less than 24 hours. However, recent studies evaluating cognition in patients with TIA have shown that impairments in executive function did not improve on day 7 after TIA, but there are limited studies examining this condition. Thanks to current developments in neuroimaging methods, persistent microvascular tissue injury has been demonstrated in the brain after TIA. Small deficits in memory, attention and problem-solving skills can negatively affect a person in everyday life (Ganzer, Barnes, Uphold, & Jacobs, 2016). Recent studies have shown that 30–50% of patients have neuronal death in their cerebral tissue in diffusion MR, even if symptoms improve after TIA (Easton et al., 2009). Temporary visual loss may develop as a result of obstruction of the retinal artery with microembolism from the atherosclerotic plaques in the internal carotid aorta (Harvey, Roth, & Yu, 2007). TIA is an important risk predictor for ischemic stroke. The risk of developing stroke increases significantly after TIA. This risk is highest in the first 48 hours and it is important for more than 3 months. Nearly 11% of people suffer a stroke in the first 90 days after TIA (Crowfoot, van der Riet, & Maguire, 2016).