ABCD SCORING VALIDATED

A recent Greekstudy of hospitalizedtransient ischemicattack (TIA) patientsvalidated the ABCDscoring system, whichwas developed toidentify patients at high risk of stroke followinga TIA. The ABCD score givespatients higher numbers of points basedon (A)ge, (B)lood pressure, (C)linical featuresof unilateral weakness or speechdisturbance without weakness, and(D)uration of symptoms. Points areawarded as follows: age >60 years, bloodpressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, speech disturbancewithout weakness, and symptomslasting 10 to 59 minutes each merit 1point; unilateral weakness and symptomslasting >60 minutes each get 2points. The investigators found the 30-day risk of stroke in their 226 patients tobe 9.7% overall. The risk ranged from 0%with ABCD scores of 0 to 2 to 31.3% inpatients with a score of 6. These resultsprovided further evidence of the utility ofthis simple scoring system.

Dr. Garrett is a clinical pharmacist practitioner at Cornerstone Health Carein High Point, NC.