He was quick to add, however, that the ABCD2 score is no substitute for clinical judgment. Certain patients with a TIA should be sent straightaway to the ED regardless of their ABCD2 score. They include individuals with a hypercoagulable state, endocarditis, a crescendo event, known ipsilateral large-vessel stenosis or occlusion, or CT or MRI evidence of recent infarction.
"The ABCD2 score is not magic. A young person who is an IV drug user and has a 1-minute spell of diplopia is someone you’d worry about, and yet that person probably has an ABCD2 score of 0," Dr. Johnston noted.
He reported having no relevant financial conflicts.