A Study on risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis and the determinants of carotid plaque stability in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods The study included 644 patients with acute ischemic stroke in our hospital during2005~2006.Carotid IMT and plaques were assessed by B-mode ultrasound.The relationship of vascular risk factors and metabolic factors with carotid IMT and plaques was analyzed.Results Age,smoking,systolic blood pressure,diabetes mellitus,total cholesterol and serum uric acid were independently associated with carotid IMT thickening and age,systolic blood pressure,total cholesterol,and lipoprotein(a) were independent predictors of carotid plaques.There were independent associations of sex,hypertension,lipoprotein(a) and HDL with stability of carotid plaques.Conclusions The present study indicates that age,smoking,systolic blood pressure,diabetes mellitus,total cholesterol,lipoprotein(a) and serum uric acid are independent predictors of carotid atherosclerosis.