Causes of Transient Ischemic Attack

List of causes of Transient Ischemic Attack

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Transient Ischemic Attack) that could possibly cause Transient Ischemic Attack includes:

• Atherosclerosis
• Cerebral atherosclerosis
• Embolism
• Brain embolism (type of Embolism)
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Thrombosis

Longer list of causes of Stroke symptoms: see full list of causes for Stroke symptoms

Causes of Transient Ischemic Attack (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Transient Ischemic Attack that are listed by the Diseases Database:

• Atherosclerosis

Causes of Transient Ischemic Attack: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Transient Ischemic Attack.

Stroke Syndromes: Differential Overview

(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

TIA/Stroke

❑ Middle cerebral artery stroke

❑ Anterior cerebral artery stroke

❑ Posterior cerebral artery stroke

❑ Watershed stroke

❑ Thalamic lacune

❑ Vertebrobasilar ischemia

❑ Pontine lacune

❑ Pontine stroke

❑ Midbrain stroke

❑ Pure motor hemiplegia

❑ Ataxic hemiparesis

❑ Lateral medullary stroke

❑ Temporal lobe stroke

Hemorrhage

❑ Subarachnoid hemorrhage

❑ Cerebellar hemorrhage

❑ Thalamic hemorrhage

❑ Pontine hemorrhage

❑ Putaminal hemorrhage

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Stroke: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Factors that increase the risk of stroke include history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), atherosclerosis, hypertension, electrocardiogram changes, arrhythmias, rheumatic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, gout, postural hypotension, cardiac or myocardial enlargement, high serum triglyceride levels, lack of exercise, use of hormonal contraceptives, cigarette smoking, and family history of stroke.

The major causes of stroke are thrombosis, embolism, and hemorrhage.

Thrombosis

In middle-aged and elderly people — among whom there’s a higher incidence of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension — thrombosis is the most common cause of stroke. Obstruction of a blood vessel causes the stroke. Typically, the main site of the obstruction is the extracerebral vessels, but sometimes it’s the intracerebral vessels.

Thrombosis causes ischemia in brain tissue supplied by the affected vessel as well as congestion and edema. The latter may produce more symptoms than the thrombosis itself, but these subside with the edema.

Thrombosis may develop while the patient sleeps or shortly after he awakens; it can also occur during surgery or after a myocardial infarction. The risk increases with obesity, smoking, or the use of hormonal contraceptives. Cocaine-induced ischemic stroke is now seen in younger patients.

Embolism

The second most common cause of stroke, embolism is an occlusion of a blood vessel caused by a fragmented clot, a tumor, fat, bacteria, or air. It can occur at any age, especially among patients with a history of rheumatic heart disease, endocarditis, posttraumatic valvular disease, or myocardial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias or after open-heart surgery or placement of a mechanical heart valve.

The embolus usually develops rapidly — in 10 to 20 seconds — and without warning. When it reaches the cerebral vasculature, it cuts off circulation by lodging in a narrow portion of an artery, most commonly the middle cerebral artery, causing necrosis and edema.

If the embolus is septic and infection extends beyond the vessel wall, an abscess or encephalitis may develop. If the infection is within the vessel wall, an aneurysm may form, which could lead to cerebral hemorrhage.

Hemorrhage

The third most common cause of stroke is hemorrhage. Like an embolism, it may occur suddenly, at any age. Such hemorrhage results from chronic hypertension or aneurysms, which cause sudden rupture of a cerebral artery. The rupture diminishes blood supply to the area served by this artery. In addition, blood accumulates deep within the brain, further compressing neural tissue and causing even greater damage.

Stroke classification

Strokes are classified according to their course of progression. The least severe is the TIA, or little stroke, which results from a temporary interruption of blood flow, usually in the carotid and vertebrobasilar arteries. A progressive stroke, or stroke-in-evolution (thrombus-in-evolution), begins with slight neurologic deficit and worsens in a day or two. In a completed stroke, neurologic deficits are maximal at onset and don’t progress.

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Transient Ischemic Attack as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Transient Ischemic Attack as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Transient Ischemic Attack. Our database lists the following as having Transient Ischemic Attack as a complication of that condition:

• Moyamoya Disease

Transient Ischemic Attack as a symptom:

Conditions listing Transient Ischemic Attack as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Transient Ischemic Attack. Our database lists the following as having Transient Ischemic Attack as a symptom of that condition:

• Atherosclerosis
• Fabry's Disease
• Granulomatous Angiitis of the Central Nervous System
• Hemorrhagic thrombocythemia
• Internal carotid agenesis
• Primary angiitis of the central nervous system
• Stroke

Medical news summaries relating to Transient Ischemic Attack:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Transient Ischemic Attack:

• Small strokes cause of dementia

Related information on causes of Transient Ischemic Attack:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Transient Ischemic Attack may be found in:

• Risk factors for Transient Ischemic Attack
• Hidden causes of Transient Ischemic Attack