What is true about transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

What is true about transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

• A. Causes tissue death
• B. Lasts several days
• C. TIA always results in persistent deficits
• D. Symptoms are brief and cause no tissue death, lasting less than 1 hour

Answer: (D)

Transient ischemic attack is a brief episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain, with no lasting brain tissue injury. Because the ischemia is transient and tissue is not infarcted, deficits resolve once perfusion is restored. This is why symptoms are brief and no tissue death occurs, often lasting minutes to less than an hour (though historically TIAs were defined as under 24 hours). In contrast, true strokes involve tissue death and persistent deficits. So the statement describing brief symptoms with no tissue death lasting less than an hour correctly captures the nature of a TIA.

Transient ischemic attack is a brief episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain, with no lasting brain tissue injury. Because the ischemia is transient and tissue is not infarcted, deficits resolve once perfusion is restored. This is why symptoms are brief and no tissue death occurs, often lasting minutes to less than an hour (though historically TIAs were defined as under 24 hours). In contrast, true strokes involve tissue death and persistent deficits. So the statement describing brief symptoms with no tissue death lasting less than an hour correctly captures the nature of a TIA.