national-clinical-guidelines-for-stroke-fourth-edition

Glossary
ABCD2 score Prognostic scores to identify people at high risk of stroke after a transient
ischaemic attack (TIA).
It is calculated based on:
A – age (≥60 years, 1 point)
B – blood pressure at presentation (≥140/90 mmHg, 1 point)
C – clinical features (unilateral weakness, 2 points, or speech disturbance
without weakness, 1 point)
D – duration of symptoms (≥60 minutes, 2 points, or 10–59 minutes, 1
point)
The calculation of ABCD2 also includes the presence of diabetes (1 point).
Total scores range from 0 (low risk) to 7 (high risk).
Activities of daily Refers to activities that people normally undertake (eg bathing, dressing,
living self-feeding).
Acupuncture A complementary medicine that involves inserting thin needles into the
skin.
Aerobic exercise Low to moderate intensity exercise that can be sustained for long periods of
time (eg cycling, swimming or walking).
Alteplase A drug used for thrombolysis.
Aneurysm A bulge in the wall of a blood vessel that is filled with blood. This can burst
and cause a haemorrhage.
Angiography A technique that uses X-ray technology to image blood vessels.
Anticoagulants A group of drugs used to reduce the risk of clots by thinning the blood.
Antifibrinolytic Drugs used to prevent excess bleeding by maintaining blood clot stability.
agents
Antiphospholipid Sometimes called ‘sticky blood syndrome’ because blood clots form too
syndrome quickly; this is due to antibodies against the body’s phospholipids part of
every cell in the body.
Antiplatelets A group of drugs used to prevent the formation of clots by stopping
platelets in the blood sticking together.
Antithrombotics The generic name for all drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots.
This includes antiplatelets and anticoagulants.
Arterial dissection This is caused as a result of a small tear forming in the lining of the arterial
wall.
Atherosclerosis Fatty deposits that harden on the inner wall of the arteries (atheroma) and
roughen its surface; this makes the artery susceptible to blockage either by
narrowing or by formation of a blood clot.
Atrial fibrillation A heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, often faster than the
normal heart rate.
Audit (clinical) A method of evaluating the performance of a clinical service against a set of
standards/criteria.
Barthel Index A scale that measures daily functioning specifically relating to the activities
of daily living or mobility. Scores range from 0 to 100.
Biofeedback A technique that provides feedback about bodily functions such as heart
rate with the aim of bringing them under voluntary control.
xviii © Royal College of Physicians 2012