Intracerebral haemorrhage masquerading as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in a patient with atrial fibrillation-a case report.

Intracerebral haemorrhage is beginning to be recognised as a cause of transient neurological signs and symptoms. In patients with atrial fibrillation, transient neurological deficit is usually presumed to be a transient ischaemic attack when there is no clinical history suggestive of haemorrhage. Many clinicians initiate antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy without performing a computed tomography brain scan to exclude haemorrhage. This course of management risks progression of the haemorrhage with more profound neurological effects. We report a case of intracerebral haemorrhage presenting with a transient neurological deficit in a patient with atrial fibrillation. Early CT brain scanning in all TIAs and strokes is recommended to exclude haemorrhage before initiating appropriate therapy.