National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score is an unreliable predictor of perfusion deficits in acute stroke

ConclusionsAlthough higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores are predictive of perfusion deficits, many patients with no clinically detectable signs have persisting cerebral blood flow changes. A National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score threshold should therefore not be used to select patients for perfusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Perfusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in all patients presenting with acute focal neurological deficits, even if these deficits are transient.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi?DOI=10.1111%2Fijs.12438

Source: International Journal of Stroke - April 6, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Victor Choi, Mahesh Kate, Jayme C. Kosior, Brian Buck, Trevor Steve, Rebecca McCourt, Thomas Jeerakathil, Ashfaq Shuaib, Derek Emery, Ken Butcher Tags: Research Source Type: research