Prevalence of concomitant atherosclerotic arterial diseases in patients with significant cervical carotid artery stenosis in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerotic stenosis of extracranial carotid arteries is an important cause of ischemic stroke in Taiwan, an ethnic Chinese population. Concurrent atherosclerotic arterial disease is an important issue in the management of patients with carotid stenosis, but its prevalence and extent are unknown.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-three consecutive patients with angiographically proven significant cervical carotid artery stenosis (>or=50% stenosis) were enrolled in this study. Angiography was done to document concurrent coronary, renal, and limb artery stenosis. Clinical symptoms and signs were also correlated with the angiographic findings.


RESULTS
One or more significant concurrent arterial stenotic disease was found in 73% of the patients. The most frequent were coronary artery disease, found in 68% of the patients, while renal artery stenosis and limb artery stenosis were found in 20% and 21% of the patients, respectively. Age, diabetes, history of angina pectoris, intermittent claudication, and asymmetric arm blood pressures were significantly associated with the presence of concurrent arterial stenosis. However, 41% of the patients with concurrent coronary artery disease did not have any clinical symptoms or history of myocardial infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicated that concurrent advanced and extensive arterial disease is common in patients with significant cervical carotid stenosis, and also suggest the importance of global evaluation of systemic atherosclerosis in these patients to achieve optimal management.
Wu
Yen-Wen
YW
Cardiology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd, Taipei 10002, Taiwan, ROC.
Lin
Mao-Shin
MS
Lin
Yen-Hung
YH
Chao
Chia-Lun
CL
Kao
Hsien-Li
HL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology