Treatment of carotid artery stenosis: Medical therapy, surgery, or stenting?

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

With the aging of the general population and the availability of noninvasive imaging studies, carotid artery stenosis is a disease commonly seen in general medical practice. Differentiation between symptomatic and asymptomatic disease is critical to the treatment course because the natural history differs markedly between them. Antiplatelet therapy and aggressive treatment of vascular risk factors are the mainstays of medical therapy. Class I evidence shows that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is effective in preventing ipsilateral ischemic events in patients with symptomatic moderate- and high-grade stenosis. The procedure is also effective in selected patients with asymptomatic stenosis, but the benefit is marginal. In the past decade, carotid angioplasty and stenting has been proposed as a valid alternative to CEA. Currently, it is unclear whether carotid angioplasty and stenting is as safe as CEA in patients with carotid artery stenosis who need invasive treatment. Large clinical trials are under way to answer this question.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)362-368
Number of pages7
JournalMayo Clinic proceedings
Volume84
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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