What are the TOAST criteria for classification of ischemic stroke subtypes?
The TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria for classification of ischemic stroke subtypes were developed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. The criteria are based on the clinical and imaging findings and are used to differentiate between large-vessel, small-vessel, cardioembolic, and other causes of stroke. The criteria include the presence of symptoms and signs of focal neurologic deficits, a time course of the deficits, imaging findings such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and computed tomography (CT) scan, and a history of cardiac or neurologic events. The criteria also consider other risk factors that may contribute to the cause of the stroke, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.