Correlation between transient ischemic attack and intracranial or extracranial artery stenosis

Objective To investigate the relationship between transient ischemic attack(TIA) and intracranial or extracranial artery stenosis.Methods Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was further used in 56 cases with cerebral artery stenosis from 68 TIA patients after examinations of B ultrasound of neck, transcranial color doppler(TCD) and cardiac ultrasound. Results 6 cases were shown stenosis or occlusion in middle cerebral arteries(MCA), 21 cases were shown stenosis or occlusion in arteria carotis interna,8 cases were shown stenosis in subclavian arteries and 28 cases were shown stenosis or occlusion in vertebral arteries or basal arteries. 44 cases with TIA were related to stenosis of large arteties, 16 cases of which were intracarotid TIA, and 28 cases were vertebrobasilar TIA; 18 cases were embotic TIA, 15 cases of which were intracarotid TIA, and 3 cases were vertebrobasilar TIA. 4 casea were lacunar TIA; and 2 cases were related to vascular spasm. Conclusions Most patients with TIA have cerebral artery stenosis.There is a positive correlation between TIA and intracranial or extracranial artery stenosis.