Amaurosis fugax: risk factors and prevalence of significant carotid stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and prevalence of carotid stenosis in patients with amaurosis fugax (AF).


METHODS
Patients diagnosed with AF and subjected to carotid ultrasound in 2004-2010 in Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg (n=302), were included, and data were retrospectively collected from medical records.


RESULTS
The prevalence of significant carotid stenosis was 18.9%, and 14.2% of the subjects were subjected to carotid endarterectomy. Significant associations with risk of having ≥70% stenosis were male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-5.46), current smoking (aOR: 6.26; 95% CI: 2.62-14.93), diabetes (aOR: 3.68; 95% CI: 1.37-9.90) and previous vasculitis (aOR: 10.78; 95% CI: 1.36-85.5). A majority of the patients (81.4%) was seen by an ophthalmologist prior to the first ultrasound. Only 1.7% of the patients exhibited retinal artery emboli at examination.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of carotid stenosis among patients with AF is higher than has previously been demonstrated in stroke patients. An association with previously reported vascular risk factors and with vasculitis is seen in this patient group. Ocular findings are scarce.
Department of Ophthalmology, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde.
Pia
P
Kvickström
Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg; Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal.
Bertil
B
Lindblom
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg; Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Göran
G
Bergström
Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg; Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal.
Madeleine
M
Zetterberg
amaurosis fugax; carotid stenosis; carotid ultrasound; giant cell arteritis; transient ischemic attack; transient monocular visual loss