What is the key feature that differentiates a transient ischemic attack (TIA) from a stroke?
Group of answer choices
- TIAs involve permanent brain injury.
- TIAs usually last more than one hour.
- TIAs are caused by bleeding in the brain.
- TIAs usually resolve within a short period without infarction.
The correct answer is:
TIAs usually resolve within a short period without infarction.
Please contact distinguished papers for help with Question 36 /NURS-6501N Advanced Pathophysiology or any other assignment.
Email: distinguishedpapers@yahoo.com
Explanation:
The key distinction between a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and a stroke is the absence of permanent brain damage (infarction) in TIA:
- TIA:
- Neurologic deficits resolve completely (typically within <1 hour, though by definition <24 hours).
- No acute infarction on imaging (diffusion-weighted MRI is the gold standard to rule out small infarcts).
- Stroke:
- Permanent infarction occurs (visible on imaging).
- Symptoms persist beyond 24 hours (though most strokes are evident much sooner).
Why Not the Others?
- “TIAs involve permanent brain injury”: False—this defines a stroke, not a TIA.
- “TIAs usually last >1 hour”: False—most resolve within 60 minutes (though the formal cutoff is 24h).
- “TIAs are caused by bleeding”: False—TIAs are ischemic (due to temporary clot/hypoperfusion); bleeding causes hemorrhagic stroke.
Clinical Implications:
- TIA is a medical emergency—10-15% risk of stroke within 90 days (highest in first 48h).
- ABCD2 score helps stratify risk and guide urgent evaluation (e.g., carotid imaging, anticoagulation for AF).
Thus, the transient nature without infarction is the defining feature of TIA.
