Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Risk of stroke from symptomatic carotid stenosis

According to the American Heart Association scientific statement on the primary prevention of ischemic stroke, this patient has an estimated annual risk of stroke of 1% to 2% (Goldstein, 2001). The Toronto Asymptomatic Cervical Bruit Study prospectively followed a cohort of 500 asymptomatic patients with cervical bruits for a mean of 23 months (Chambers, 1986). The overall incidence of stroke at one year was 1.7% (1% in patients without previous TIAs); however, the incidence was 5.5% in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis (>75%). Cerebral ischemic events (TIA or stroke) occurred most frequently in men (P <0.025) and in patients of either sex with a history of severe carotid artery stenosis (P <0.0001), progressing carotid artery stenosis (P <0.0005), or heart disease (P <0.0005).
 
Additional observational studies such as the NASCET study suggest that the overall rate of underreported stroke ipsilateral to a hemodynamically significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis is 1% to 2% annually. 





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