A number of conditions may mimic a stroke. The FABS score can be used to screen for these disorders in the Emergency Department. The authors are from the University of Tennessee, University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, St Anne's University Hospital (Czech Republic, Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix) and Virginia Tech.
FABS is a mnemonic for 6 parameters:
(1) absence of facial droop (F)
(2) negative history of atrial fibrillation (A)
(3) age < 50 years (A)
(4) systolic blood pressure < 150 mm Hg at presentation (B)
(5) history of seizures (S)
(6) isolated sensory symptoms without weakness at presentation (S)
Finding
Points
absent
0
present
1
with items 1 and 2 negative statements
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 6
• A score >= 3 indicates a stroke mimic with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity 91%.
Performance:
• The area under the ROC curve is stated to be 0.95.
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