Clinical identification of TIAs due to carotid stenosis.

A retrospective case note survey of 139 cases of carotid territory TIAs was carried out. Angiographic evidence of carotid stenosis was more frequently encountered when the patient's attacks consisted of symptoms suggestive of ischemia of small cortical territories with involvement restricted to the arm or leg or to dysphasia. Attacks of hemiparesis affecting face, arm and leg, or arm and leg were less often associated with carotid stenosis. If patients described any attacks of a restricted nature the chance of finding carotid stenosis was 47%, if not 16%. It is argued that these findings are a reflection of the varied pathogenesis of TIAs, and the relevance of this heterogeneity to the interpretation of clinical trials is briefly mentioned.