Using blood cell levels to predict stroke after TIA

This study focused on identifying a factor that would allow doctors to identify TIA patients who are at a high risk of stroke. The authors concluded that patients with increased levels of coated platelets after TIA are at a higher risk of stroke.

Patients who have experienced transient ischemic stroke (TIA – temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain) are at a greater risk of having a subsequent stroke. Certain factors may indicate whether a TIA patient is more likely to experience a stroke. Therefore, it is important to identify factors in TIA patients to predict who may need monitoring and treatment.

Coated platelets are a type of blood cell that are usually increased in patients with certain types of stroke and TIA. These patients have a higher risk of recurrent stroke. It is possible that the level of coated platelets in a patient could be used to help predict the risk of ischemic stroke after TIA.

This study aimed to examine whether coated platelet levels would be good at predicting stroke in TIA patients. 171 TIA patients were included in this trial and follow up occurred after 30 days.

There were 10 strokes that occured during follow-up. A coated platelet level above 51% as a predictive factor for stroke. 51 patients had coated platelet levels greater than or equal to 51.5%. Of these, 16% had a stroke by the 30 day follow-up. For patients with lower levels of coated platelets, 2% had a stroke by the follow-up. 

Patients with higher levels of coated platelets had a 10 fold higher risk of stroke than those with lower levels. This method of predicting was also more sensitive than current scoring methods used.

The authors concluded that measuring levels of coated platelets in TIA patients could be included in current predictive methods to identify patients at a greater risk of stroke.