19th July 2023

Background

A TIA is historically defined as an acute loss of focal cerebral or monocular function lasting less than 24 hours, thought to be due to inadequate cerebral or ocular blood supply. More recently, a ‘tissue-based’ definition has been proposed, which describes a TIA as ‘transient neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord or retinal ischaemia without acute infarction’. However, this relies on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain being available.

In terms of aetiology and pathophysiology, it is the same as for stroke.