Patients with amaurosis fugax had a significantly lower seven-year cumulative rate of cerebral infarction compared to those with focal cerebral ischemia (14% vs 27%; p<0.02).
Cohort (n=305)
Does the long-term risk of cerebral infarction differ between patients presenting with amaurosis fugax versus focal cerebral ischemia?
Patients with amaurosis fugax have a significantly lower long-term risk of cerebral infarction compared to those with focal cerebral TIAs, despite having a higher prevalence of operable carotid atherosclerotic lesions.
Absolute Event Rate: 14% vs 27%
p-value: p=<0.02
We compared the clinical associations, arteriographic findings, and long-term outcome of 93 patients with amaurosis fugax and 212 patients with focal cerebral ischemia (transient ischemic attacks TIAs). The group of patients with cerebral TIAs included a significantly larger proportion of blacks and had a higher prevalence of hypertension than the group with amaurosis. Operable atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries were more often associated with amaurosis (66%) than with cerebral TIAs (51%). The seven-year cumulative rate of cerebral infarction, however, was less in patients with amaurosis (14%) than in those with cerebral TIAs (27%; p less than 0.02). This difference in outcome persisted after adjustment for race, hypertension, and type of therapy. There were no significant differences, however, in the cumulative rates either of recurrent TIAs or of myocardial infarction or sudden death in the two groups of patients.
Hurwitz et al. (Sun,) conducted a cohort in Amaurosis fugax and focal cerebral ischemia (TIAs) (n=305). Amaurosis fugax vs. Focal cerebral ischemia (TIAs) was evaluated on Seven-year cumulative rate of cerebral infarction (p=<0.02). Patients with amaurosis fugax had a significantly lower seven-year cumulative rate of cerebral infarction compared to those with focal cerebral ischemia (14% vs 27%; p<0.02).