RIND stands for "Reversible Ischemic Neurological Deficit". It is a term that is not widely used anymore. In layman's terms, it means a stroke that the patient was able to fully recover from within a few weeks. This is opposed to a TIA, or "Transient Ischemic Attack", in which the patient recovers within 24 hours.

The terms RIND and TIA have taken on a very different meaning in the recent past. RIND has been largely discarded, and TIA indicates that there was a blockage of blood flow to a part of the brain or the eye causing the patient to have symptoms, but that no permanent damage was done. A TIA, by its most recent definition, can leave no permanent signs of damage on an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) scan.

Bottom line, a RIND usually indicates a small stroke - one from which the patient recovered within a few days to weeks. It requires the same evaluation as would a stroke, and should be taken VERY seriously, in the hopes that any further strokes can be avoided. If you or a family member has had a "RIND", a thorough stroke evaluation including MRI of the brain, imaging of the arteries, heart evaluation, and a blood lab profile (looking for cholesterol profile, for example) needs to be undertaken immediately.