[Correlation between clinical and angiographic findings in cases of transient cerebral circulatory disturbances (author's transl)].

The results are presented of angiographic investigations in 85 patients suffering from transient ischaemic cerebral circulatory disturbances. Transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) were observed in 45 patients, reversible ischaemic neurological defects of longer duration (PRIND) were diagnosed in 40 patients. The mean age of all patients at the time of angiography was 49.9 years. Transfemoral cerebral panarteriography was performed in all cases, including studies both of the aortic arch and of the cranio-cervical vessels. The mean interval between the first manifestation of cerebrovascular disease and angiographic investigation was approximately 2 years. 10.6% of all patients showed normal angiograms; in 35.3% of all cases diffuse vessel wall alterations were found; 37.6% showed minor stenoses (vessel diameter reduced to 80-34%), whilst 16.5% showed major stenoses (vessel diameter reduced to 33-1%) or occlusions. There was poor correlation between clinical-neurological localization of the ischaemic lesion and the angiographically-verified stenoses or occlusions. The angiographic findings corresponded to the clinically affected regions in only 52.2% of all patients suffering from stenoses of occlusions. A good correlation was found in 71.4% of the cases when only major stenoses and occlusions were evaluated. Consequently, angiographic studies of the aortic arch, as well as of all extra- and intracranial vessels are a precondition for the surgical treatment of the cranio-cervical vessels in every patient. It is possible by these means only to achieve a comprehensive assessment of the haemodynamic processes in the cerebral circulation.