Rate and Prognosis of Brain Ischemia in Patients With Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events

COUTTS, Shelagh B., Francois MOREAU, Negar ASDAGHI, Jean-Martin BOULANGER, Marie-Christine CAMDEN, Bruce C. V. CAMPBELL, Andrew M. DEMCHUK, Thalia S. FIELD, Mayank GOYAL, Martin KRAUSE, Jennifer MANDZIA, Bijoy K. MENON, Robert MIKULÍK, Andrew M. PENN, Richard H. SWARTZ and Michael D. HILL. Rate and Prognosis of Brain Ischemia in Patients With Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events. JAMA Neurology. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association, 2019, vol. 76, No 12, p. 1439-1445. ISSN 2168-6149. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.3063.

Basic information

• Original name: Rate and Prognosis of Brain Ischemia in Patients With Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events
• Authors: COUTTS, Shelagh B. (124 Canada, guarantor), Francois MOREAU (124 Canada), Negar ASDAGHI (840 United States of America), Jean-Martin BOULANGER (124 Canada), Marie-Christine CAMDEN (124 Canada), Bruce C. V. CAMPBELL (36 Australia), Andrew M. DEMCHUK (124 Canada), Thalia S. FIELD (124 Canada), Mayank GOYAL (124 Canada), Martin KRAUSE (36 Australia), Jennifer MANDZIA (124 Canada), Bijoy K. MENON (124 Canada), Robert MIKULÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Andrew M. PENN (124 Canada), Richard H. SWARTZ (124 Canada) and Michael D. HILL (124 Canada).
• Edition: JAMA Neurology, Chicago, IL, American Medical Association, 2019, 2168-6149.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30103 Neurosciences
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 13.608
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/19:00112984
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.3063
• UT WoS: 000505186000007
• Keywords in English: RECURRENT STROKE; ATTACK; MISDIAGNOSIS; DIAGNOSIS; EMERGENCY; PREDICT; TIA
• Tags: 14110127, rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Importance Early treatment of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) reduces the risk of stroke. However, many patients present with symptoms that have an uncertain diagnosis. Patients with motor, speech, or prolonged symptoms are at the highest risk for recurrent stroke and the most likely to undergo comprehensive investigations. Lower-risk patients are much more likely to be cursorily investigated. Objective To establish the frequency of acute infarct defined by diffusion restriction detected on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (DWI positive). Design, Setting, and Participants The Diagnosis of Uncertain-Origin Benign Transient Neurological Symptoms (DOUBT) study was a prospective, observational, international, multicenter cohort study of 1028 patients with low-risk transient or minor symptoms referred to neurology within 8 days of symptom onset. Patients were enrolled between June 1, 2010, and October 31, 2016. Included patients were 40 years or older and had experienced nonmotor or nonspeech minor focal neurologic events of any duration or motor or speech symptoms of short duration (<= 5 minutes), with no previous stroke. Exposures Patients underwent a detailed neurologic assessment prior to undergoing a brain MRI within 8 days of symptom onset. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was restricted diffusion on a brain MRI scan (acute stroke). Results A total of 1028 patients (522 women and 506 men; mean [SD] age, 63.0 [11.6] years) were enrolled. A total of 139 patients (13.5%) had an acute stroke as defined by diffusion restriction detected on MRI scans (DWI positive). The final diagnosis was revised in 308 patients (30.0%) after undergoing brain MRI. There were 7 (0.7%) recurrent strokes at 1 year. A DWI-positive brain MRI scan was associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke (relative risk, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.4-16.8) at 1 year. Absence of a DWI-positive lesion on a brain MRI scan had a 99.8% negative predictive value for recurrent stroke. Factors associated with MRI evidence of stroke in multivariable modeling were older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04), male sex (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.39-2.96), motor or speech symptoms (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.37-3.29), ongoing symptoms at assessment (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.29-3.02), no prior identical symptomatic event (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.12-3.11), and abnormal results of initial neurologic examination (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.11-2.65). Conclusions and Relevance This study suggested that patients with transient ischemic attack and symptoms traditionally considered low risk carry a substantive risk of acute stroke as defined by diffusion restriction (DWI positive) on a brain MRI scan. Early MRI is required to make a definitive diagnosis. Question What is the rate of a stroke defined by diffusion restriction detected on magnetic resonance imaging scans among patients with low-risk suspected transient ischemic attack or minor stroke presentations? Findings This cohort study of 1028 patients with low-risk transient focal neurologic events found a 13.5% rate of acute ischemic stroke detected on magnetic resonance imaging scans; the final diagnosis was revised in 30.0% of patients after brain magnetic resonance imaging. The clinical risk of recurrent clinical stroke at 1 year in this low-risk population was confirmed to be low, at 0.7%. Meaning There is a higher than expected rate of true ischemia in patients with low-risk suspected transient ischemic attack and minor stroke; magnetic resonance imaging is required for diagnosis because clinical assessment could not reliably identify the correct diagnosis. This cohort study examines the frequency of acute infarction defined by diffusion restriction detected on magnetic resonance imaging scans among patients with low-risk, mild, or transient focal neurologic symptoms.