@article{3052953,
    title = "Internal carotid artery stenosis: Rate of progression",
    author = "Liapis, C and Kakisis, J and Papavassiliou, V and Ntanou, A and and Kontopoulou, S and Kaperonis, E and Koumakis, K and Gogas, J",
    journal = "European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery",
    year = "2000",
    volume = "19",
    number = "2",
    pages = "111-117",
    publisher = "W B SAUNDERS CO LTD",
    issn = "1078-5884, 1532-2165",
    doi = "10.1053/ejvs.1999.0951",
    keywords = "carotid artery stenosis; ultrasonography; natural history; rate of
progression; risk factors",
    abstract = "Objectives: to assess the incidence and the rate of progression of
internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and to determine the related risk
factors.
Design: open prospective study.
Materials and methods: between 1988-1947, 442 carotid al arteries with
various degrees of stenosis were followed using colour duplex
ultrasonography every 6 months. Of these arteries, 290 (66%) were
asymptomatic, 62 (14%) had caused transient ischaemic attack and 90
(20%) a stroke. In 145 eases (33%), there was concomitant coronary
artery disease (CAD), in 134 (30%) diabetes mellitus, in 248 (56%)
hypertension, in 139 (31%) hypercholesterolaemia and in 370 (84%)
history of smoking. Of the plaques, 44 (10%) were uniformly echolucent,
19 (4%) haemorrhagic, 136 (31%) predominantly echolucent, 146 (33%)
predominantly echogenic and 97 (22%) uniformly echogenic.
Results: significant progression of stenosis occurred in 82 cases
(19%). The mean progression rate in these cases was 15% annually
(range: 5-50%). There uns no statistically significant correlation
between the progression of the ICA stenosis and initial neurological
status, age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
hypercholesterolaemia and smoking habit. Stenosis progression was
correlated only with CAD and the ultrasonographic characteristics of the
plaques. Patients with CAD as well as those with uniformly echolucent
plaques presented a higher incidence and rate of stenosis progression
(p<0.05).
Conclusions: progression of internal carotid artery stenosis occurred in
19% of cases. The mean progression rate in these patients was 15%
annually and was correlated with CAD and the ultrasonographic
characteristics of the plaque."
}