ABCD2

Medical abbreviation · Neurology

ABCD2 stands for Age, Blood pressure, Clinical features, Duration, Diabetes, a neurology abbreviation.

Score estimating early stroke risk after a transient ischemic attack, assigning points for age 60 or older, blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, unilateral weakness or speech disturbance, symptom duration and diabetes, for a maximum of 7. Higher scores indicate greater short-term risk.

Example: ABCD2 score 5 (age 72, BP 160/90, speech disturbance for 30 minutes); admit for expedited workup.

Usage notes

Published by Johnston and colleagues in 2007. Unilateral weakness and symptoms lasting an hour or more score 2 points each. Newer guidance cautions against relying on ABCD2 alone, because low-scoring patients can still have atrial fibrillation or carotid stenosis that needs urgent treatment; rapid evaluation is recommended for all TIA patients.

Related abbreviations

More neurology abbreviations

• ACA – Anterior cerebral artery
• AChR – Acetylcholine receptor
• ACom – Anterior communicating artery
• AD – Alzheimer's disease
• ADEM – Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• AED – Antiepileptic drug
• AIS – Acute ischemic stroke
• ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• AMS – Altered mental status
• ASIA – American Spinal Injury Association
• ASM – Antiseizure medication
• ASPECTS – Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score

See all 131 neurology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.