Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- informe del cuidador o del paciente sobre el déficit neurológico focal
- inicio repentino y breve duración de los síntomas
Other diagnostic factors
- antecedentes de aterosclerosis extracraneal
- antecedentes de enfermedad cardíaca
- síntomas unilaterales
- disfasia
- ataxia, vértigo o pérdida del equilibrio
- pérdida visual o déficit del campo visual
- diplopía binocular
- presión arterial elevada en la presentación
- ausencia de síntomas positivos (temblor, escotoma, espasmo)
- antecedentes personales o familiares de accidente cerebrovascular prematuro, aborto espontáneo o tromboembolia venosa
- soplo carotídeo
Risk factors
- fibrilación auricular
- enfermedad valvular
- estenosis carotídea
- estenosis intracraneal
- insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva
- hipertensión
- hiperlipidemia
- diabetes mellitus
- tabaquismo
- Trastorno por consumo de alcohol
- edad avanzada
- foramen oval permeable (FOP)
- inactividad
- obesidad
- hipercoagulabilidad
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- glucemia
- perfil químico
- hemograma completo (HC)
- tiempo de protrombina, índice internacional normalizado (INR) y tiempo de tromboplastina parcial (TTP) activada
- electrocardiograma (ECG)
- resonancia magnética (IRM) cerebral con estudios por imágenes ponderadas en difusión
- lipidograma en ayunas
Investigations to consider
- tomografía computarizada (TC) de la cabeza
- velocidad de sedimentación globular (VSG)
- telemetría/monitorización Holter
- ecocardiograma ± estudio de burbujas
- ultrasonido Doppler de carótida
- angiografía por tomografía computarizada (TC)
- angiografía por resonancia magnética (ARM)
- Doppler transcraneal
- estudios de hipercoagulabilidad
Treatment algorithm
accidente isquémico transitorio de vasos pequeños (AIT)
accidente isquémico transitorio cardioembólico (AIT)
estenosis de una arteria intracraneal principal
estenosis carotídea extracraneal (con estenosis carotídea del ≥50%)
con válvulas cardíacas mecánicas o cardiopatía reumática que ya se encuentran en tratamiento anticoagulante en rango terapéutico
Contributors
Authors
Jennifer Simpson, MD

Clinical Professor
Department of Neurology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora
CO
Disclosures
JS declares that she has no competing interests.
Karen Orjuela, MSCR, FAAN
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora
CO
Disclosures
KO has received research funding from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and Abbott.
Acknowledgements
Dr Jennifer Simpson and Dr Karen Orjuela wish to gratefully acknowledge Dr Lucia Chen and Dr Ethan Cumbler, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
LC and EC declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Michael S. Phipps, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology and Public Health
University of Maryland School of Medicine
MD
Disclosures
MSP declares that he has no competing interests.
Ronan Factora, MD
Staff Physician
Section of Geriatric Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland
OH
Disclosures
RF declares that he has no competing interests.
Tony Rudd, MD
Stroke Physician
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Stroke Programme Director
Royal College of Physicians
London
UK
Disclosures
TR declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al. 2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2021 Jul;52(7):e364-467.Full text Abstract
Turan TN, Zaidat OO, Gronseth GS, et al. Stroke prevention in symptomatic large artery intracranial atherosclerosis practice advisory: report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology. 2022 Mar 22;98(12):486-98.Full text Abstract
Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, et al. Guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: 2019 update to the 2018 guidelines for the early management of acute ischemic stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2019 Dec;50(12):e344-418.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
Differentials
- Accidente cerebrovascular
- Hipoglucemia
- Convulsión con parálisis posterior a la convulsión (parálisis de Todd)
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Diagnosis, workup, risk reduction of transient ischemic attack in the emergency department setting
- ACR appropriateness criteria: cerebrovascular disease
More GuidelinesPatient information
preguntas para formularle al médico si ha sufrido un accidente cerebrovascular
Accidente isquémico transitorio (mini accidente cerebrovascular)
More Patient informationCalculators
Escala de accidente cerebrovascular del NIH
Puntuación ABCD2 para predecir el riesgo de accidente cerebrovascular después de un AIT
More CalculatorsVideos
Demostración animada de venopunción y flebotomía
Demostración animada de como realizar un electrocardiograma (ECG)
More videosLog in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer