Clinical findings of intracranial vertebral artery disease using magnetic resonance angiography

The vertebral artery lesion has a variety of clinical characteristics. We sought to clarify the clinical patterns and the location of the intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) diseases according to analyses of images obtained using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). We studied vascular lesions, risk factors, symptoms, signs, and outcomes in 35 patients with ICVA disease (3 had bilateral occlusion; 9, unilateral occlusion; 6, bilateral stenosis; and 17, unilateral stenosis). The most common site of unilateral and bilateral lesions was the distal ICVA after the origin of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). We found accompanying basilar artery disease in 28.6% of patients with unilateral and bilateral ICVA disease. The majority of the ICVA lesions were associated with internal carotid arteries disease (48.8%). The common vascular risk factors were hypertension (71%), diabetes mellitus (34%), hyperlipidemia (31%), smoking (29%), and coronary artery disease (23%). Eighteen patients (51.4%) had transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) only, 10 patients (28.6%) had TIAs before stroke, and 5 patients (14.3%) had strokes without TIAs. Most patients (80%) with TIAs, with or without stroke, had multiple episodes. Vertigo or dizziness, ataxia, limbs weakness and abnormal gait were the common symptoms and signs. At 6 months follow-up, 66.7% patients had no symptoms or only slight symptoms that caused no disability. Our data showed (1) the usual location of ICVA disease (occlusion or severe stenosis) was distal to PICA, especially near the vertebrobasilar junction; (2) the risk factors were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and coronary artery disease; (3) patients with ICVA disease had a high frequency of accompanying internal carotid, middle cerebral, or basilar artery disease; (4) vertigo or dizziness, and ataxia were the common symptoms and signs; (5) TIA was the most common clinical pattern; (6) the outcome was favorable, except in cases with bilateral ICVA occlusion.     

Bilateral intracranial vertebral artery disease in the New England Medical Center, Posterior Circulation Registry.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of patients with bilateral intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) disease were selective and retrospective. METHODS: We studied risk factors, vascular lesions, symptoms, signs, and outcomes in patients with bilateral ICVA disease among 430 patients in the New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Registry. RESULTS: Forty-two patients had bilateral ICVA occlusive disease (18 had bilateral stenosis; 16, unilateral occlusion and contralateral stenosis; and 8, bilateral occlusion). The most common risk factors were hypertension (32/42 [76%]) and hyperlipidemia (22/42 [52%]). Sixteen patients (38%) had transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) only; 18 (43%), TIAs before stroke. Occlusive vascular disease also involved the basilar artery in 29 patients (69%), the extracranial vertebral arteries in 18 (43%), and the internal carotid arteries in 11 (26%). Only 6 patients had no other major vascular lesion. Cerebellar symptoms were common. Among 30 patients with infarction, 21 (70%) had proximal intracranial territory involvement, and 15 (50%) had distal territory involvement. The location of occlusive lesions in relation to posterior inferior cerebellar artery origins did not significantly influence prognosis. During follow-up, 31 patients had no symptoms or slight disability, 2 had progression, and 7 died. Among 7 patients with poor outcome, 6 also had basilar artery stenosis or occlusion and 5 had proximal and distal intracranial territory infarcts. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with bilateral ICVA occlusive disease have hypertension, other major occlusive lesions, and TIAs before stroke. Short- and long-term outcomes are usually favorable, but patients with bilateral ICVA and basilar artery-occlusive lesions often have poor outcomes.     

加强对后循环缺血性卒中/短暂性脑缺血发作的认识

后循环缺血性卒中（posterior circulation stroke,PCS）/短暂性脑缺血发作（transient ischemic attack,TIA）占全部卒中及TIA的1/5,其临床表现按血管分布可呈现不同的症状,以头晕最常 见。50%以上椎-基底动脉梗死患者在几天或几周前会出现TIA症状,这些先兆症状可辅助早期识别 PCS。PCS的复发率高于前循环,尤其是伴椎-基底动脉狭窄的患者,可通过完善计算机断层扫描血管 成像（computed tomography angiography,CTA）、磁共振血管成像（magnetic resonance angiography,MRA） 等辅助检查明确血管狭窄程度。另外,对侧支循环建立充分的后循环重度狭窄或闭塞,其神经功能 缺损程度较轻,且预后更好。     

New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation registry

Among 407 New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation registry patients, 59% had strokes without transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 24% had TIAs then strokes, and 16% had only TIAs. Embolism was the commonest stroke mechanism (40% of patients including 24% cardiac origin, 14% intraarterial, 2% cardiac and arterial sources). In 32% large artery occlusive lesions caused hemodynamic brain ischemia. Infarcts most often included the distal posterior circulation territory (rostral brainstem, superior cerebellum and occipital and temporal lobes); the proximal (medulla and posterior inferior cerebellum) and middle (pons and anterior inferior cerebellum) territories were equally involved. Severe occlusive lesions (>50% stenosis) involved more than one large artery in 148 patients; 134 had one artery site involved unilaterally or bilaterally. The commonest occlusive sites were: extracranial vertebral artery (52 patients, 15 bilateral) intracranial vertebral artery (40 patients, 12 bilateral), basilar artery (46 patients). Intraarterial embolism was the commonest mechanism of brain infarction in patients with vertebral artery occlusive disease. Thirty-day mortality was 3.6%. Embolic mechanism, distal territory location, and basilar artery occlusive disease carried the poorest prognosis. The best outcome was in patients who had multiple arterial occlusive sites; they had position-sensitive TIAs during months to years.     

双侧椎动脉/基底动脉重度狭窄或闭塞的急性后循环梗死患者临床特点及预后分析

目的总结分析双侧椎动脉/基底动脉重度狭窄或闭塞的急性后循环梗死患者的临床特点和预后。方法收集急性后循环梗死且伴有双侧椎动脉/基底动脉重度狭窄或闭塞的住院患者资料,分析其血管危险因素、起始症状、治疗及病情演变情况,并随访90 d预后,以mRS2分定义为预后不良。结果共纳入28例患者,最常见的起始症状为孤立性头晕或眩晕(57.1%)。53.6%的患者出现病情加重,加重≥2次9例(32.1%),预后不良15例(53.6%)。预后不良组高血压3级、病情加重、加重≥2次比例明显高于预后良好组(P0.05)。病情加重≥2次组高血压3级、高脂血症、孤立性头晕或眩晕起病、预后不良和死亡比例明显高于加重2次组(P0.05)。基底动脉不显影组死亡率(75%)明显高于显影组(4.2%)(P0.05)。结论双侧椎动脉/基底动脉重度狭窄或闭塞的急性后循环梗死患者多以孤立性头晕或眩晕起病;孤立性头晕或眩晕起病和高血压3级患者病情容易加重;病情反复加重患者预后不良比例高,死亡率高;基底动脉不显影患者死亡率高。     

Transluminal angioplasty for arteriosclerotic disease of the distal vertebral and basilar arteries.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the distal vertebral and basilar artery is now being performed in selected patients with haemodynamically significant lesions of the posterior cerebral circulation. Its effect and overall results were examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A balloon dilatation catheter specifically developed for these procedures, with a 2.0-3.5 mm balloon diameter, at 6 atmospheres of pressure, was used. Angioplasty was performed in 12 patients (including six whose initial results have been reported) with angiographically documented stenotic lesions involving either the intracranial vertebral artery (C1-C2 portion) or the basilar artery, and satisfying the following criteria: (1) clinical symptoms suggestive or consistent with a transient ischaemic attack refractory to medical treatment, or small infarction of the posterior circulation; and (2) angiographically documented stenosis greater than 70%. Two of 12 patients had complete thrombosis of the distal vertebral and basilar artery and PTA was performed after successful intra-arterial thrombolysis. RESULTS: Successful results, without complications, were obtained in eight patients, with complete resolution of vertebrobasilar ischaemic symptoms. Immediate complications occurred in four patients including two with vessel dissection, and two with thromboembolism. The two patients with acute arterial dissection were reoperated but developed small infarctions with permanent neurological deficits. The two patients with thromboembolic complication showed transient neurological deficit. The overall stenosis ratio decreased from a mean of 84% pretreatment to 44% after the angioplasty procedure. Restenosis occurred in two patients. Long term clinical follow up in 11 patients who survived more than six months showed resolution of ischaemic symptoms after PTA in all except for one with a restenosis who had recurrent transient ischaemic attacks. CONCLUSION: Transluminal angioplasty may be an effective procedure to treat vertebrobasilar ischaemia secondary to high grade arteriosclerotic disease affecting either the distal vertebral or basilar artery regions that do not respond to medical treatment.     

New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Stroke Registry: I. Methods, Data Base, Distribution of Brain Lesions, Stroke Mechanisms, and Outcomes

Among 407 New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Registry (NEMC-PCR) patients, 59% had strokes without transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 24% had TIAs before strokes, and 16% had only posterior circulation TIAs. Embolism was the commonest stroke mechanism accounting for 40% of cases (24% cardiac origin, 14% arterial origin, 2% had potential cardiac and arterial sources). In 32%, large artery occlusive lesions caused hemodynamic brain infarction. Stroke mechanisms in the posterior and anterior circulation are very similar. Infarcts most often included the distal posterior circulation territory (rostral brainstem, superior cerebellum and occipital and temporal lobes), while the proximal (medulla and posterior inferior cerebellum) and middle (pons and anterior inferior cerebellum) territories were equally involved. Infarcts that included the distal territory were twice as common as those that included the proximal or middle territories. Most distal territory infarcts were attributable to embolism. Thirty day mortality was low (3.6%). Embolic stroke mechanism, distal territory location, and basilar artery occlusive disease conveyed the worst prognosis.     

Clinical features of proven basilar artery occlusion

Our study describes the early symptoms and signs of 85 patients with either basilar artery occlusion or bilateral distal vertebral artery occlusion documented by selective angiography. The most common prodromal symptoms were vertigo, nausea, and headache, which occurred during the 2 weeks before the stroke. Angiographic findings of 49 patients were classified into proximal, middle, and distal basilar artery occlusions. Twenty-two of these patients had additional vertebral artery lesions. A fourth group was composed of 36 patients with bilateral distal vertebral artery occlusion without opacification of the basilar artery through a vertebral artery injection. Onset was sudden in 20 patients; sudden, but preceded by prodromal symptoms in 11 patients; and progressive in 54 patients. Patients with progressive strokes often had bilateral vertebral artery occlusions. Most patients with acute onset had occlusion of the middle and distal basilar artery. An embolic origin of basilar artery occlusion from an arteriosclerotic vertebral artery lesion was assumed to be an important mechanism. An embolus reaching the basilar artery may not necessarily reach the top of the artery, but may also become lodged more proximally.     

基底动脉闭塞的DSA分析

目的 探讨脑干梗死经DSA全脑血管造影证实基底动脉闭塞后的临床与预后,以期对临床治疗有一定的指导意义。方法 选取14例在临床中发现并经脑血管造影证实为基底动脉闭塞而临床症状轻微的患者。分析基底动脉闭塞后的临床表现与侧支代偿之间的关系。结果 （1）基底动脉近端闭塞,临床表现多以眩晕发作为主（占91％）;中段或远端闭塞,则多表现为间断性意识障碍（占66．7％）。（2）基底动脉近端闭塞,侧支血流多由颈外动脉和锁骨下动脉分支及椎动脉颅外段的肌支或脊髓前动脉代偿供血;基底动脉中、远段闭塞,侧支血流多由小脑后下动脉与小脑上动脉吻合（占100％）。结论 基底动脉闭塞若侧支代偿充分,可不表现明显的脑干缺血表现或表现轻微。内科治疗效果较好。     

Stroke in patients with fusiform vertebrobasilar aneurysms

We studied seven patients with brainstem infarction and large fusiform vertebrobasilar (VB) aneurysms to clarify the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features. All presented with pontine infarcts; one also had a cerebellar infarct. VB TIAs preceded brainstem infarction in four patients. Angiography and CT documented VB fusiform aneurysmal dilatation. Four had intraluminal thrombi and one had severe basilar artery stenosis. Two distinct clinical pictures emerged: unilateral pontine infarcts with favorable outcome, presumably related to obstruction of a pontine penetrating artery at its origin from the posterior wall of the aneurysmal basilar artery, and major fatal bilateral pontine infarcts from basilar artery occlusion. Two patients came to autopsy. One had thrombus in the dilated basilar artery and a posterior cerebral artery branch embolus with hemorrhagic occipital infarction; the other had basilar artery thrombus with aneurysmal rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Fusiform VB aneurysms caused brainstem stroke by intraluminal thrombus, local embolism, atherostenosis, and obstruction of paramedian penetrating arteries. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is an uncommon complication.     

A patient with vertebrobasilar transient ischaemic attacks and provokable basilar steal

In a 65-year-old woman with vertebrobasilar transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and subclavian steal, a steal phenomenon in the basilar artery could be demonstrated by transcranial Doppler sonography after provocation with postischaemic hyperaemia of the arm on the affected side. It was not possible to provoke symptoms or signs at the time. The significance of finding a steal phenomenon in the basilar artery even in a patient with a history of vertebrobasilar TIAs is discussed.     

Elective stenting for symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis presenting as transient ischaemic deficits or stroke attacks: short term arteriographical and clinical outcome

BACKGROUND: Although stent assisted angioplasty is an effective treatment for coronary and peripheral arterial disease, its efficacy in intracranial arteriosclerotic disease has not been verified. OBJECTIVES: To assess the radiographic and clinical outcome of stent assisted angioplasty for symptomatic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. METHODS: We attempted stent assisted angioplasty in 14 patients with symptomatic high grade stenosis (>60%) on the proximal portion of the MCA, who had experienced either recurrent transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) resistant to medical therapy or one or more stroke attacks. Patient records were analysed for angiographic characteristics, degree of stenosis, pre-procedural regimen of anti-platelet and/or anti-coagulation agents, use of devices, procedure related complications, pre-operative and post-operative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) findings, and clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: Stent assisted angioplasty was successfully performed in 8 of 14 patients without any serious complications and unsuccessful in 2 of 14 patients due to the tortuous curve of the internal carotid artery siphon. Four patients had complications. Two patients had an arterial rupture; one patient was rescued by an additional stent and balloon tamponade, the other patient died. Complications in the other two patients included thrombotic occlusion and distal thrombosis. Residual stenosis was less than 50% in diameter in all the patients. All eight patients who underwent follow up cerebral angiography had no restenosis. Follow up SPECT showed improved perfusion in the affected MCA territory in all the tested patients with TIA and in one of three stroke patients. Using the modified Rankin Scale at follow up, four of five TIA patients and five of six stroke patients were assessed as functionally improved or having a stable clinical status. CONCLUSION: Although the re-stenosis rate in stent assisted angioplasty seems to be better than in primary balloon angioplasty as reported previously, the complication rate is still high. Elective stenting is an alternative therapeutic method for the prevention of secondary ischaemic stroke in stroke patients with MCA stenosis, and seems to be a potentially effective but also hazardous therapeutic technique in patients with recurrent TIAs. This study indicates the need for randomised control trial data of this intervention. Additionally, long term follow up data and additional clinical experience are required to assess the durability of this procedure.     

Posterior cerebral artery stenosis

We analyzed the clinical features of symptomatic posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stenosis in 6 patients selected from 15 patients with angiographically documented PCA atherostenosis occurring during a 7-year period. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) were the major presentation in 5 patients. A homonymous visual field defect was present in 2 patients. TIA symptoms were predominantly visual or sensory, or both. The most common visual symptom was difficulty seeing to one side. One patient saw flashing lights. Sensory spells were always paresthetic, usually involving the arm and hand and occasionally the face and leg. Three patients had visual and sensory spells together. Two patients with a visual field defect had calcarine infarcts found by computed tomography. All patients were treated with warfarin. During follow-up (4 months to 4 years), no patient had a new stroke in the PCA territory, and only one continued to have TIAs. PCA atherostenosis is rarer then PCA embolic occlusion. In contrast to those with PCA embolism, our patients with PCA atherostenosis had more TIAs and fewer infarcts. The clinical features of PCA stenosis--preponderance of visual and sensory TIAs--distinguish this vascular lesion from stenosis of the middle cerebral artery.     

A case of severe stenosis of bilateral distal vertebral artery successfully treated with anastomosis operation]

A 65-year-old male complained of loss of consciousness for several minutes, transient diplopia and dizziness. He had no neurological deficits nor abnormalities in MR imaging. However, flow velocity of bilateral vertebral artery on ultrasonography indicated severe stenosis of bilateral distal vertebral artery. Brain angiography revealed severe stenosis of bilateral distal vertebral artery as well as occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (MCA). Single photon emission CT (SPECT: ECD-RVR method with acetazolamide loading) showed decreased cerebral blood flow and poor perfusion reserve in bilateral cerebellar hemisphere and right MCA territory. Superficial temporal artery-superior cerebellar artery (STA-SCA) anastomosis was performed. The patient turned out to have no episodes of unconsciousness attack, transient diplopia and dizziness after operation. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the posterior circulation was also improved. Evaluating quantitative CBF measurement by means of ECD-RVR method was useful for evaluating CBF. In cases who have severe stenosis of bilateral distal vertebral artery with complaints of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, STA-SCA anastomosis may be one of the most effective treatments.     

Small strokes in the carotid territory associated with a normal carotid arteriogram

Appropriate percutaneous carotid arteriography was carried out in 69 patients who presented with transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) in the carotid territory. Major abnormalities were detected in 19 which included internal carotid stenosis (nine), internal carotid occlusion (seven), intracranial aneurysm (two), and cerebral angioma (one). Forty-five patients had normal angiograms and five slight irregularity of the internal carotid artery without stenosis. The symptoms and signs pertaining to the normotensive and hypertensive groups are presented. The outcome of stroke in 35 normotensives was as follows: three died of related disease, three are severely disabled, two have slight disability, eight have minor neurological residua, and 19 are normal. Fifteen patients had a diastolic blood pressure of above 105 mm Hg and the outcome of stroke in these patients treated with hypotensive agents was as follows: two died of related disease, two have severe and two moderate disablement, four have slight disability, one has minor residua, and four are normal. The pathogenesis of TIAs in relation to the two groups and the use of anticoagulant drugs and hypotensive agents are discussed.     

Bilateral occlusion of the trunk of the middle cerebral artery. Results of an international randomized trial. The EC/IC Bypass Study Group

Bilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) trunk theoretically should be a very severe condition, but its actual prognosis has never been studied. Nine of 1,377 patients (7 Asians, 1 Black, 1 Caucasian) from the Cooperative Study of Extracranial/Intracranial Arterial Anastomosis were found to have atherosclerotic bilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) trunk before entering the trial. Three presented with a stroke followed by a contralateral stroke, two experienced a unilateral stroke, two had a unilateral stroke preceded by ipsilateral TIAs, one had a unilateral stroke preceded by TIAs on both sides and one experienced isolated unilateral TIAs. Retrograde filling to the distal MCA was universally present. During follow-up (mean: 45 months), only one (non-operated) patient had further cerebrovascular events, and ultimately a fatal stroke. One additional patient died of sepsis and one had a silent myocardial infarct. All survivors resumed their previous activities. This study shows that in bilateral MCA trunk occlusion, the long-term prognosis is reasonable in the patients who do not present with a devastating stroke.     

Radiation-induced angiopathy in acute stroke patients

Studies investigating patients with irradiation induced stroke are rare, and the clinical presentation, imaging features, and related vascular abnormalities remain to be studied. We reviewed 12 consecutive stroke patients (8 men and 4 women; mean AGE = 60 years) who had a previous history of radiation therapy because of head and neck malignancies. Brain CT/MRI and angiography were performed in all the patients. All the patients presented with transient ischemic attack or completed stroke. Vascular lesions generally occurred at the areas compatible with the radiation site. Significant extracranial carotid stenosis was observed in 7 patients, and 5 of them had neck malignancies. Intracranial vascular lesions were documented in 7, which included distal vertebral and/or basilar artery in 3, and distal carotid artery and/or middle cerebral artery in 6 patients. Five of them had head malignancy. The mean interval between the irradiation and the onset of stroke was 8.5 years, which tended to be short in patients with intracranial diseases as compared to those with extracranial diseases. We conclude that intracranial arterial diseases are at least as frequent as extracranial diseases in patients with radiation-induced stroke. This potential hazard of radiotherapy should be considered in treating patients with head and neck malignancy.     

缺血性脑血管病患者颅内外动脉狭窄分布研究

目的 研究缺血性脑血管病患者颅内外动脉狭窄分布特点.方法 本研究收集了1031例在院脑梗死和TIA患者的DSA资料,对其中资料完整的1000例患者进行分析.结果 DSA显示,1000例患者中有680例存在脑动脉狭窄,累计有1417条血管狭窄.发生部位依次为:大脑中动脉狭窄337条、椎动脉远端及基底动脉狭窄291条、颈内动脉颅外段狭窄280条、椎动脉起始段狭窄207条、颈内动脉虹吸段狭窄115条、大脑前动脉狭窄100条、大脑后动脉狭窄70条.大脑中动脉、椎基底动脉系统和颈动脉颅外段是最常见的动脉狭窄好发部位.颅内动脉狭窄331例,颅外动脉狭窄134例,颅内外动脉均见狭窄215例.结论 颅内动脉粥样硬化性狭窄仍是缺血性卒中的重要原因,最近三年,多发病变、颅外动脉病变检出率明显上升,值得关注,控制血压、血糖、血脂可预防脑动脉粥样硬化性狭窄的发生.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis: long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is an effective treatment modality in the coronary and peripheral arterial diseases, its efficacy for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis has not been verified. We assessed the long-term outcome of PTA for symptomatic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. METHODS: We performed PTA in 10 patients with symptomatic high-grade stenosis (>70%) on M1 segment of MCA, who had either recurrent transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) resistant to medical therapy or perfusion problems. PTA was performed with a microballoon (2-2.5 mm diameter and 10-13 mm length) without insertion of a stent. After PTA, we evaluated the possible occurrence of restenosis, which was defined as >50% stenosis on follow-up conventional angiogram or increased M1 flow velocity on follow-up transcranial doppler up to the baseline value. RESULTS: PTA was successfully performed in 9 patients without any serious complications. One patient had asymptomatic dissection. Residual stenosis was less than 50% in diameter in all the patients. During follow-up period (mean 34.5 months), TIAs did not recur in 6 of 7 patients who had had intractable TIAs. Two patients developed strokes, which were not referable to the index MCA lesions. Among the 6 patients who underwent follow-up conventional angiography or serial TCD, restenosis was noticed in 3 patients (50%). CONCLUSION: Although restenosis is not uncommon, PTA for symptomatic MCA stenosis is a relatively safe procedure, and can be used to prevent recurrent TIAs or strokes in selected patients.     

'Atypical TIAs' may herald cardiac rather than cerebral events.

Sixty-four patients with atypical transient cerebral or visual symptoms that could not be classified as unequivocal TIAs nor as migraine, epilepsy or neurosis, were followed up for a mean of 3.75 years (range 11 months and 9 years, 240 patient years). Their mean age was 55 years. Only two patients suffered a (non-disabling) stroke, but eight patients had a major cardiac event: fatal myocardial infarction in three, sudden death in one and non-fatal myocardial infarction in four patients. Seven of these eight patients were known to have cardiovascular risk factors. Visual symptoms were relatively benign with regard to cardiac events (2 events in 28 patients), whereas dizziness alone and focal sensory symptoms alone were more strongly associated with subsequent cardiac complications (2 out of 4, and 4 out of 13 patients, respectively). In a control group of 185 patients with 'typical' TIAs or minor strokes, followed for a total of 233 patient years, seven patients had a ischaemic stroke, and only one a cardiac event. Our results suggest that patients with atypical transient cerebral deficits and cardiovascular risk factors may carry a low risk of subsequent stroke, but a high risk of major cardiac events.