Analysis of the cerebral digital subtraction angiographic findings of 70 patients with transient ischemic attack

Objective To discuss the relationship of transient ischemic attack in the patients with intra-and extracranial arterial stenosis. Methods Calculate the percentage of stenosis of the intra-and extracranial arteries in digital subtraction angiography of 70 patients with transient ischemic attack. And the percentage of stenosis of vessels in various age group and carotid artery and vertebral artery system was analyzed using statistic methods. Results 30% (21/70) of the cases had either extracranial artery occlusion or stenosis. 28.6% (20/70) of the cases had either intracranial artery occlusion or stenosis. 32.9% (23/70) of the cases had multiple intra-and extracranial arteries occlusion or stenosis. In general,there were more patients with extracranial stenosis than intracranial stenosis (53.3% vs. 46.7%). In patients with anterior circulation TIA(ICA-TIA),there were slightly more extracranial vessels stenosis than the intracranial vessels (52.9% vs. 47.1%). However,in patients with posterior circulation TIA(VA-TIA),there were much more extracranial vessels stenosis than the intracranial vessels(63.1% vs. 36.9%). In ICA-TIA group,there were more cases had only intracranial vessels stenosis than VA-TIA(45.2% vs.4.5%).There were fewer cases with multiple intra-and extracranial vessels stenosis than VB-TIA(23.8% vs.59.1%). There were almost equal cases with extracranial stenosis in both group(31.0% vs.36.4%). In patients younger than 50 year-old,the majority of the cases had only intracranial stenosis (75%) and MCA stenosis accounted for 50% of these cases,10% had only extracranial stenosis and 15% had multiple stenosis. In patients older than 50 year-old,only 11.4% of the cases had single intracranial artery stenosis and 45.5% had multiple stenosis and 43.2% had only extracranial artery stenosis,The difference was significant. Conclusion Digital subtraction angiography may clarify the causes of transient ischemic attack and guide the treatment.