title: Patterns of cerebrovascular symptomatology associated with carotid atheroma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify ultrasonic tissue characteristics and stenosis of carotid plaques that correspond to amaurosis fugax, hemispheric transient ischaemic attack, and stroke. At total of 146 symptomatic carotid plaques (136 patients) associated with amaurosis fugax, hemispheric transient ischaemic attack, stroke, and having 50-99% stenosis on duplex, were studied. These plaques were imaged on duplex, captured in a computer and their grey scale median was evaluated to distinguish the dark (low grey scale median) from the bright (high grey scale median) plaques. Stenosis was assessed on duplex. The amaurosis fugax group corresponded to carotid plaques with low grey scale median and severe stenosis, as contrasted with the other two groups (hemispheric transient ischaemic attack and stroke) (P < 0.05). These results suggested that amaurosis fugax was dependent only on the instability of carotid plaques, whereas hemispheric transient ischaemic attack and stroke were both dependent on carotid plaques and other pathogenetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Irvine Laboratory for Cardiovascular Investigation and Research, Department of Vascular Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Praed St, Paddington, London, UK. t.tegos@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tegos
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sabetai
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Elatrozy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhanjil
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020757:Amaurosis Fugax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography