This retrospective chart review examined whether a peripheral acute phase response—characterized by elevated white blood cells, neutrophils, and monocytes—occurs in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) similarly to those with stroke. Of 1,041 medical records screened, strict exclusion criteria yielded 12 first-time TIA cases and 43 first-time stroke cases. TIA was defined as symptoms lasting less than one hour without radiographic evidence of infarction. Both groups demonstrated significantly elevated neutrophil and monocyte percentages and reduced lymphocyte percentages and absolute counts compared to laboratory norms. Stroke patients additionally showed elevated absolute neutrophil counts. Comparisons between groups revealed no significant differences in most measures, except for lower absolute lymphocyte counts in the TIA group. These findings suggest that a peripheral acute phase response occurs in both transient and permanent ischemia, indicating that such immune activation is not limited to conditions involving detectable brain tissue damage.
