MedicalResearch.com Interview with
Jeff Perry, MD, MSc, CCFP-EM
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Research Chair in Emergency Neurological Research, University of Ottawa Emergency Physician, Epidemiology Program,
The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Perry: Currently many patients with a TIA or non-disabling stroke have a subsequent stroke which may be very disabling or result in death prior to having all investigations completed and maximal stroke prevention implemented. Prior to this study, the utility of CT findings for predicting subsequent stroke was incompletely understood in this patient population. Dr. Perry: Main findings: Compared to patients without ischemia, the probability of another stroke occurring within 90 days of the initial episode was:
- 2.6 times greater if the CT image revealed newly damaged tissue due to poor circulation (acute ischemia);
- 5.35 times greater if tissue was previously damaged (chronic ischemia) in addition to acute ischemia;
- 4.9 times greater if any type of small vessel damage occurred in the brain, such as narrowing of the small vessels (microangiopathy), in addition to acute ischemia;
- 8.04 times greater if acute and chronic ischemia occurred in addition to microangiopathy.