Cooperative study of hospital frequency and character of transient ischemic attacks. V. Symptom analysis
D. E. Futty, M. Conneally, M. L. Dyken, T. R. Price, A. F. Haerer, D. C. Poskanzer, P. D. Swanson, P. R. Calanchini and R. A. Gotshall
All patients (1,328) suspected of having transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
who came to six institutions during a 21-month period were identified.
Symptoms and symptom complexes were related to the clinical diagnoses by
cross-tabulation, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis. The diagnoses
obtained by the discriminant analysis program were comparable to those of
reviewing clinical neurologists. Symptoms of importance in the
vertebral-basilar system (VBS) were bilateral visual blurring, diplopia,
ataxia, and dizziness; In either carotid system (CAS), ipsilateral
monocular visual disturbance anc contralateral weakness or sensory
complaints; in the left CAS, language disturbances; and in those whose
ultimate diagnosis was not TIA, loss of consciousness, confusion, and
bilateral leg weakness. Patients with VBS TIAs have symptoms common to
conditions that are not TIA and have a greater variety of symptoms and more
combinations of symptoms than CAS TIA.
