Implication of earlier carotid atherosclerosis for stroke and its subtypes.
In addition to advanced stenosis, earlier stages of carotid atherosclerosis are associated with the risk for stroke. Based on a recent report, this review will focus on the associations between carotid atherosclerosis and stroke subtypes. The authors report increased severity of carotid atherosclerosis in atherothrombotic and lacunar infarction patients, compared to nonstroke patients. However, the severity was similar between nonstroke patients and those with cardioembolic infarction and cerebral hemorrhage. By receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, although evaluation of carotid atherosclerosis appears to help for risk assessment of atherothrombotic and lacunar infarction, the potential for benefit may be greater for atherothrombotic. Large prospective studies are still necessary to establish the link between earlier carotid atherosclerosis and the future risk for specific stroke subtypes.
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. nagaiy@medone.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yoji
Y
Nagai
Kazuo
K
Kitagawa
Masayasu
M
Matsumoto
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional