BACKGROUND: If changes of hemodynamics in internal or external cranial artery and stenosis of atherosclerosis are found early, patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) may be treated at an early phase so as to prevent and decrease the onset of cerebral infarction. Carotid Doppler can analyze carotid canal wall, hemodynamic properties and stenosis, and changes of plaque morphology; however, transcranial Doppler (TCD) can evaluate vascular stenosis and occlusion and judge collateral circulation in cranium through detecting velocity and direction of blood flow. Can the association of them increase the diagnostic rate of TIA? OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the association of carotid Doppler and TCD on TIA in internal carotid artery. DESIGN: Contrast observational study. SETTING: Department of Neuroelectrophysiology, Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 54 patients with TIA in internal carotid artery were selected from the Department of Neurology of Huizhou Central People’s Hospital from May 2004 to June 2005. There were 35 males and 24 females aged 46-81 years. The clinical situation was asthenia of single limb, hemiplegia, anaesthesia of single upper or lower limb, hemianesthesia, sensory disorder and aphasia. The symptoms lasted for less than 2 hours. All cases were diagnosed with CT, and those who had pathological changes of acute cerebral infarction and history of cardiac disease were excluded. Additionally, 50 healthy subjects who were regarded as control group were selected from the Department of Neurology of Huizhou Central People’s Hospital. There were 30 males and 20 females aged 45-80 years. All subjects were consent. METHODS: HD15000 color Doppler ultrasound (Philips Company, USA) and Muliti-DopX2 TCD (DWL Company, Germany) were used to detect hemodynamics, stenosis and distribution of atherosclerosis in carotid artery and internal carotid artery. Evaluation of marker: Stenosis was calculated by the ratio between the minimal cavity and vascular sectional area at the maximal site of plaque (mild: stenosis < 50%; moderate and severe: stenosis ≥ 50%). With TCD, the following results were regarded as stenosis: blood velocity of average envelope > 120 cm/s (diagnostic criteria of vascular stenosis of basilar artery: blood velocity of average envelope > 80 cm/s), increase and segmental property of blood flow, and murmu of turbulent flow and vessel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive rate of atherosclerosis and incidence of stenosis with carotid Doppler and TCD. RESULTS: All 54 TIA patients and 50 healthy subjects were involved in the final analysis. ① Results of carotid Doppler: Atherosclerosis and stenosis were obvious in experimental group. Positive rate of atherosclerosis was 85% (46/54) and incidence of stenosis of carotid artery was 41% (22/54), which were higher than those in control group [52% (26/54), 41% (22/54), χ2 = 13.42, 10.90, P < 0.01]. ② Results of TCD: In experimental group, positive rate of atherosclerosis at base of skull was 89% (48/54) and incidence of stenosis of internal cranial artery was 48% (26/54), which were higher than those in control group [62% (31/50), 0, χ2 = 10.28, 32.00, P < 0.01]. Stenosis of artery was mainly involved in middle cerebral artery, initial segment and crotch of carotid artery. CONCLUSION: The association of carotid Doppler and TCD can increase clinically diagnostic rate of TIA and provide bases for apposition and intensity of TIA lesion. BACKGROUND: If changes of hemodynamics in internal or external cranial artery and stenosis of atherosclerosis are found early, patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) may be treated at an early phase so as to prevent and decrease the onset of cerebral infarction. Carotid Doppler can analyze carotid canal wall, hemodynamic properties and stenosis, and changes of plaque morphology; however, transcranial Doppler (TCD) can evaluated vascular stenosis and occlusion and judge collateral circulation in cranium through detecting velocity and direction of blood flow. the diagnostic rate of TIA? OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the association of carotid Doppler and TCD on TIA in internal carotid artery. DESIGN: Contrast observational study. SETTING: Department of Neuroelectrophysiology, Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 54 patients with TIA in internal carotid artery were selected from the Department of Neurology of Huiz hou Central People’s Hospital from May 2004 to June 2005. There were 35 males and 24 females aged 46-81 years. The clinical situation was asthenia of single limb, hemiplegia, anaesthesia of single upper or lower limb, hemianesthesia, sensory disorder and aphasia. The symptoms lasted for less than 2 hours. All cases were diagnosed with CT, and those who had pathological changes of acute cerebral infarction and history of cardiac disease were excluded. 50 healthy subjects who were considered as control group were selected from the Department METHODS: HD15000 color Doppler ultrasound (Philips Company, USA) and Muliti-DopX2 TCD (DWL Company, Germany) were of 30 males and 20 females aged 45-80 years. All subjects were consent. used to detect hemodynamics, stenosis and distribution of atherosclerosis in carotid artery and internal carotid artery. Evaluation of marker: Stenosis was calculated by the ratio between the minimWith cavity and vascular sectional area at the maximal site of plaque (mild: stenosis <50%; moderate and severe: stenosis ≥ 50%). With TCD, the following results were ideal as stenosis: blood velocity of average envelope> 120 cm / s (diagnostic criteria of vascular stenosis of basilar artery: blood velocity of average envelope> 80 cm / s), increase and segmental property of blood flow, and murmu of turbulent flow and vessel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive rate of atherosclerosis and incidence of Results: All 54 TIA patients and 50 healthy subjects were involved in the final analysis. ① Results of carotid Doppler: Atherosclerosis and stenosis were significantly in experimental group. Positive rate of atherosclerosis was 85% (46/54 ) and incidence of stenosis of carotid artery was 41% (22/54), which were higher than those in control group [52% (26/54), 41% (22/54), χ2 = 13.42, 10.90, P < 0.01]. ② Results of TCD: In experimental group, positive rate of atherosclerosis at base of skull was 89% (48/54) and incidence of stenosis of internal cranial artery was 48% (26/54), which were higher than those in control group [62% (31/50), 0, χ2 = 10.28, 32.00, P <0.01]. Stenosis of artery was mainly involved in middle cerebral artery, initial segment and crotch of carotid artery. CONCLUSION: The association of carotid Doppler and TCD can increase clinically diagnostic rate of TIA and provide bases for apposition and intensity of TIA lesion.