There's more to transient ischaemic attack than ABCD

Several important studies have contributed to recent changes in clinical thinking regarding transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The use of risk stratification scores and urgent clinics has become popular and incorporated into recent guidelines, but there may be some pitfalls with this approach. This commentary stresses the need for careful individual patient assessment focussed on prompt determination of the underlying pathogenic mechanism for the TIA. Suggestions on how to incorporate assessment of TIA patients into the current duties of stroke units are made.