Neurologist
-
Ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack can be difficult to diagnose clinically, and both acute and preventive therapies carry some risk. Serum biomarkers could increase diagnostic certainty by helping to distinguish cerebral ischemia from common mimics such as focal seizure, complicated migraine, and psychogenic spells. Biomarkers could also identify patients at high risk for future vascular events, which would aid in management decisions. ⋯ Large series examining many candidate molecules will be needed to find valid biomarkers, and this should be followed by use in future intervention trials to prove their utility.