Asymptomatic carotid bruit.
Cerebrovascular events are responsible for high morbidity and mortality, and carotid atherosclerosis with vascular stenosis is a major etiological factor in cerebrovascular disease. Carotid bruit is an important marker of generalized atherosclerosis. On the basis of good quality studies, we can conclude that it indicates an increased risk of cerebrovascular events and acute myocardial infarction, with the degree of carotid stenosis and presence of ischemic heart disease as the most important predictive factors. Management can be medical (risk factor modification and antiplatelet therapy) or surgical (endarterectomy). In this review article we briefly discuss the management of asymptomatic carotid bruit based on the main studies published in the last few years addressing cardiovascular event prevention in carotid atherosclerosis.
Fareleira
Filipa
F
Centro de Estudos de Medicina Baseada na Evidência, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Julião
Miguel
M
Roque
Andreia
A
Carneiro
António Vaz
AV
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors