ABSTRACT
Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (NRAF) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have long been recognised as risk factors for cerebral ischaemia and as predictors of recurrent vascular events. In the present study we aimed at determining the value of NRAF and LVH as predictors of recurrent vascular events in a cohort of patients with a first-ever episode of reversible ischemic neurological deficit (RIND). The study included 54 patients (37 men and 17 women, aged 62 +/- 9.6 yrs) who had suffered RIND; they were followed up for 30 days after the stroke in clinical conditions and for 12 months as outpatients. The patients were studied during the hospital stay by means of routine tests (electrocardiography, standard laboratory tests) and specialised studies (computer tomography, echocardiography). By the end of the one-year outpatient follow up there were 8 (14.8%) recurrent cerebrovascular events. By combining the statistically significant cerebrovascular risk factors (male sex, sudden onset of the event and moderately high systolic and diastolic blood pressure) with factors not reaching statistical significance (LVH, NRAF) we developed a statistically significant prediction model for patients with RIND.
