LONG-TERM PROGNOSIS AFTER VERTEBROBASILARTRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACKS

Clinical, C.A.T, ultrasound, and angiographic findings of 211 consecut ive patients suffering from vertebrobasilar transient ischaemic attack s were recorded and stored in a data bank. Follow-up was performed by means of questionnaires sent to the patients and their physicians, and via telephone interviews. Sufficient information was available from 2 02 patients. During follow-up of 4 years in average 11.4% of the patie nts suffered from a stroke that was disabling or even fatal in about h alf of the cases. 4.9% of the patients had a myocardial infarction, an d 13.9% died. The cumulative stroke rate after vertebrobasilar TIA was 3.6% for the first year and 14.3% for 5 years. The cumulative probabi lity of survival free of stroke and myocardial infarction was 91% for the first year and 73.6% for 5 years. However, only if the patient was older than 70 years, or suffering from hypertension the risk of a str oke was significantly increased in a proportional hazards model. Trend was recognizable to some extent in patients suffering from hyperchole sterolaemia, and from recurrent TIA, in the direction of an enhanced r isk.