BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of head-neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) combined with ABCD2 score scale for patients with cerebral infarction of vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack (TIA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 92 patients with TIA who were admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to June 2015 were enrolled in this study. ABCD2 score and CTA combined with ABCD2 score were assessed.

RESULTS: The incidence of cerebral infarction was highest in the high-risk group, followed by the middle-risk group and low-risk group. The incidence of cerebral infarction was related to the degree of stenosis in head-neck CTA, which was highest in the severe stenosis group, followed by the moderate stenosis group and mild stenosis/normal group, with significant differences. The incidence of cerebral infarction in patients with cerebral artery stenosis was correlated with the incidence of cerebral infarction in the head and neck CTA, which was severe > medium > normal/low (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The ABCD2 score can accurately predict the early development from TIA to cerebral infarction. If it is used in combination with head-neck CTA; CTA combined ABCD2 score can further improve the accuracy of prediction, which makes it feasible for use in prediction of the development of vertebrobasilar TIA to cerebral infarction.

Keywords: cerebral infarction, Ischemic Attack, Transient, Predictive Value of Tests