Association of White Matter Hyperintensities With Short-Term Outcomes in Patients With Minor Cerebrovascular Events.

Background And Purpose: White matter lesions (WML) are associated with cognitive decline, increased stroke risk, and disability in old age. We hypothesized that superimposed acute cerebrovascular occlusion on chronic preexisting injury (leukoaraiosis) leads to worse outcome after minor cerebrovascular event, both using quantitative (volumetric) and qualitative (Fazekas scale) assessment, as well as relative total brain volume.

Methods: WML volume assessment was performed in 425 patients with high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA; motor/speech deficits >5 minutes) or minor strokes from the CATCH study (CT and MRI in the Triage of TIA and Minor Cerebrovascular Events to Identify High Risk Patients).

Imaging and Baseline Predictors of Cognitive Performance in Minor Ischemic Stroke and Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack at 90 Days.

Background And Purpose: Few studies have examined predictors of cognitive impairment after minor ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). We examined clinical and imaging features associated with worse cognitive performance at 90 days.

Methods: TIA or patients with minor stroke underwent neuropsychological testing 90 days post event.

Nocturnal Hypoxemia Is Associated with White Matter Hyperintensities in Patients with a Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for stroke, which is modulated by accompanying nocturnal hypoxemia. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) share many of the same risk factors as stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether OSA and nocturnal hypoxemia are associated with white matter disease in patients with minor stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Refinement of Imaging Predictors of Recurrent Events following Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke.

Background: TIA and minor stroke have a high risk of recurrent stroke. Abnormalities on CT/CTA and MRI predict recurrent events in TIA and minor stroke. However there are many other imaging abnormalities that could potentially predict outcome that have not been assessed in this population.

High rate of magnetic resonance imaging stroke recurrence in cryptogenic transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: Cryptogenic stroke is common in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke. It is likely that the imaging recurrence risk is higher than the clinical recurrence rate. We sought to determine the rate of clinical and radiographic stroke recurrence in a population of cryptogenic TIA and minor stroke.

What causes disability after transient ischemic attack and minor stroke?: Results from the CT and MRI in the Triage of TIA and minor Cerebrovascular Events to Identify High Risk Patients (CATCH) Study.

Background And Purpose: Minor stroke and transient ischemic attack portend a significant risk of disability. Three possible mechanisms for this include disability not captured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, symptom progression, or recurrent stroke. We sought to assess the relative impact of these mechanisms on disability in a population of patients with transient ischemic attack and minor stroke.

Cavitation after acute symptomatic lacunar stroke depends on time, location, and MRI sequence.

Background And Purpose: Definitions for chronic lacunar infarcts vary. Recent retrospective studies suggest that many acute lacunar strokes do not develop a cavitated appearance. We determined the characteristics of acute lacunar infarcts on follow-up MRI in consecutive patients participating in prospective research studies.

CT/CT angiography and MRI findings predict recurrent stroke after transient ischemic attack and minor stroke: results of the prospective CATCH study.

Background And Purpose: Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke portend a substantial risk of recurrent stroke. MRI can identify patients at high risk for a recurrent stroke. However, MRI is not commonly available as an emergency.