Open AccessEarly detection of asymptomatic carotid disease in patients with arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities
Author(s) -
Snežana Rančić,
Djordje Radak,
Dragan Stojanović
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2406-0895
pISSN - 0370-8179
DOI - 10.2298/sarh0208258r
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , stenosis , cardiology , stroke (engine) , carotid artery disease , population , gangrene , vascular disease , internal carotid artery , surgery , claudication , radiology , carotid endarterectomy , arterial disease , mechanical engineering , environmental health , engineering
Arterial occlusive disease is a systemic phenomenon frequently coexisting in more than one arterial system. Often in one arterial bed disease is manifested with symptoms, in another is asymptomatic. There are only several reports indicating the prevalence of carotid stenosis in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis is defined as the presence of internal carotid/carotid bifurcation stenotic or occlusive lesions in patients with no signs or symptoms of cerebrovascular disease. Lesions are important causative factors in unheralded stroke. Two factors are particularly important: severity of stenosis and morphologic characteristics of the stenotic plaque. The recent largest completed clinical trial concerning asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (completed 1995) ACAS (Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Study) established the benefit of surgical treatment vs. best medical treatment. The reduction in relative risk of stroke was 55% in favor of surgery. Population screening for carotid stenosis is inefficient and expensive. The current interest is focused on the efficacy of screening population at risk.