title: Recurrent stroke: the role of common carotid artery intima-media thickness.
abstract: The etiology of recurrent stroke is probably multifactorial and many recurrences remain unexplained by conventional risk factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate if common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), an established vascular risk factor, can predict recurrence in first-ever stroke survivors. Two hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke were investigated with carotid ultrasonography and were screened for the first recurrent stroke up to 12 months. Sixteen (5.6%, 95% CI: 3.5-9.0%) recurrent ischemic strokes were recorded. Among demographic data, conventional vascular risk factors, presenting stroke features and ultrasonographic measurements, CCA-IMT was the only parameter that differed significantly between those who suffered a recurrent stroke and those who did not. Cox's regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors, showed that CCA-IMT was the only independent predictor of stroke recurrence (HR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.11-2.46%). We propose that CCA-IMT measurements may help to identify stroke patients at higher risk for recurrence and to plan secondary prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece. ptalelli@ion.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Talelli
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terzis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katsoulas
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrisanthopoulou
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography