Abstract

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenosis is one of the risk factors for transientischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of carotidartery stenosis and the prevalence of candidates for carotid endarterectomy in a hospital-based cohortof TIA patients under 71 years of age. MATERIAL/METHODS: This retrospective study included 205 patientswith TIA admitted to an acute stroke unit. A carotid Doppler sonography was performed in 114 patientswith TIAs in the internal carotid artery territory and a mean age of 60 years. Based on Doppler examinations,the patients were divided into 4 groups according to the following degrees of stenosis: 40-59%, 60-79%,80-99% stenosis, and occlusion. RESULTS: Doppler examinations showed that 5% had a 40-59% stenosis, 5%had stenosis >60% and 4% had occlusion of the relevant internal carotid artery. Carotid endarterectomywas done in 2% of the patients. Carotid artery stenosis was associated with a history of angina pectorisand myocardial infarction in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Theprevalence of significant carotid artery stenosis on the relevant side in patients with TIA was quitelow: only 5% had a degree of stenosis where carotid endarterectomy should be considered. Only 2% eventuallyhad carotid endarterectomy.

Keywords: Aged, 80 and over, Arteriosclerosis, Carotid Arteries, carotid stenosis, Cerebrovascular Accident, Ischemic Attack, Transient, Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex