Predictive value of combined ABCD2 scores and tracheal constriction resulted from internal carotid atherosclerosis in cerebral infarction after a transient ischemic attack

Abstract

Objective To explore the predictive value of combined ABCD2 scores and tracheal constriction resulted from internal carotid atherosclerosis (ICAS) in cerebral infarction within 7 d of onset of a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods The clinical data of 171 patients with TIA,admitted to our hospital from September 2008 to March 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were evaluated with ABCD2 scale and degrees of tracheal constriction resulted from ICAS were examined by Color Doppler ultrasound.And 7-d follow-up of patients was performed to select those patients appearing cerebral infarction; and then, the relationships between risk of post-TIA cerebral infarction and both ABCD2 scores and degrees of tracheal constriction were analyzed using chi-square test. Results Among 171 TIA patients,39 (22.8％) suffered cerebral infarction within 7 d of onset of TIA.Significant difference of risk of post-TIA cerebral infarction was noted in patients with different ABCD2 scores and degree of tracheal constriction (P＜0.05): the higher the ABCD2 scores/ the degrees of tracheal constriction, the higher incidence of cerebral infarction in TIA patients. Conclusion A rather high accuracy may be achieved with ABCD2 scale in the prediction of short-term risk of cerebral infarction after onset of TIA,and a higher accuracy may be expected by combination of ABCD2 scale with carotid atherosclerosis findings. Key words: ABCD2; Carotid atherosclerosis; Cerebral ischemia attack; Transience; Infarction; Doppler ultrasound