@article{3188759,
    title = "Antithrombotic Therapy in Carotid Artery Disease",
    author = "Papanikolaou, Paraskevi and Antonopoulos, Alexios S. and Mastorakou, and Irene and Angelopoulos, Andreas and Kostoula, Efthalia and Mystakidi, and Xara-Vasiliki and Simantiris, Spyros and Galiatsatos, Nikolaos and and Oikonomou, Evangelos and Tousoulis, Dimitris",
    journal = "Current Pharmaceutical Design",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "26",
    number = "23",
    pages = "2725-2734",
    publisher = "BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD",
    issn = "1381-6128",
    doi = "10.2174/1381612826666200518111359",
    keywords = "Antithrombotic therapy; carotid artery disease; vulnerable carotid
plaque; antiplatelet therapy; anticoagulants; peripheral artery disease",
    abstract = "The management of asymptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery disease
and the role of antithrombotic therapy is of increasing importance for
stroke prevention. Non-invasive imaging of carotid plaques can identify
high-risk plaque features that are associated with the risk of plaque
rupture. Carotid plaque necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrous cap thinning, and
the presence of foam cells have all been correlated with the risk of
rupture and onset of neurological symptoms in patients with carotid
stenosis. Antiplatelets are currently recommended for patients with a
history of ischemic stroke and/or significant carotid artery stenosis,
with aspirin and clopidogrel being the most widely used and studied
agents. The role of dual antiplatelet therapy remains controversial.
Moreover, there is scarce evidence on the role of newer anticoagulant
agents in stable patients with carotid artery stenosis. In this review
article, we discuss the pathophysiology of carotid atherosclerosis, the
use of non-invasive imaging for detecting the vulnerable carotid plaque
and summarize the existing clinical evidence on the use of antiplatelet
and antithrombotic agents in carotid artery disease."
}