A series of 40 patients with TIA (25 males and 15 females) was thoroughly investigated by means of angiography and computerized tomography, and divided into a group (A) of 15 “sine materia”, and a group (B) of 25 with direct or indirect evidence of vascular occlusive or stenotic changes. Blood viscosity at 230 sec-1 37° was cp 4.2 ± 0.3 in the controls, cp 4.7 ± 0.7 in all patients (p < 0.05) cp 4.98 ± 0.7 in all male patients (p < 0.01 versus male controls), and cp 4.75 ± 0.8 in group B (p < 0.02). Haematocrit and Fibrinogen were also significantly increased in all male patients and in group B. Circulating platelet aggregates (CPA) were increased in 40% of the patients. Almost all patients with elevated CPA were males, with a slight prevalence in group B. Changes in blood viscosity parameters and in platelet aggregation in TIA patients were therefore related both to evidence of vascular lesions, and to sex, since they were found to prevail in male patients of both groups.
Current management of transient ischaemic attacks
