How to treat the transient ischemic attack
Since in the acute stage of TIA it is not possible to distinguish it from a stroke, emergency stroke therapy is always initiated first. After an imaging procedure, such as an MRI, has been performed to rule out bleeding, this consists of dissolving the suspected blood clot with medication. This is referred to as “lysis” therapy.
As an alternative to this drug therapy, a surgical procedure to remove the vasoconstricting foreign body can be considered. In addition to this acute therapy, the aim of the further therapy must be to prevent the further development of circulatory disorders. This also applies to a TIA, as this usually occurs as a “harbinger” of a coming stroke and this must be prevented. The further procedure usually consists of a long-term therapy with platelet aggregation inhibitors, also known as anticoagulants, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or triclopidine.
When will I be healthy again?
The transitory ischemic attack is by definition temporally limited, which is expressed by the word “transitory”. Although there is still considerable controversy in professional circles about the exact maximum length, all symptoms must have subsided completely within a maximum of 24 hours in order to speak of a TIA. In most cases, however, the symptoms last much shorter. In over 50% of cases, all symptoms disappear within the first half hour. When the symptoms occur, however, it should not be waited for whether they disappear on their own, but rather the connection to a hospital should be made as soon as possible.
Prognosis of transitory ischemic attack
The prognosis of the transient ischemic attack is basically good, since it is by definition self-limiting and does not leave any permanent damage. Nevertheless, even in the case of a single event, the necessary therapeutic consequences should be drawn after a TIA. This is mainly due to the fact that TIA can be a harbinger of an upcoming stroke.
Thus, one third of all stroke patients already suffered from a TIA before the event.In order to be able to assess the risk of a stroke after a TIA has taken place, doctors use the so-called ABCD2 score, which includes various risk factors for a stroke. In order to prevent a subsequent stroke, a drug-based long-term therapy with anticoagulants, such as ASA, should also be started for TIA. If such a therapy is initiated, a good prognosis can generally be assumed.
