The relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and progressive ischemic stroke

Objective To study the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and progressive ischemic stroke. Methods Doppler ultrasonography in 564 patients with acute ischemic stroke, and the characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis was compared to patients with or without progressive ischemia stroke. Results Of all the 564 patients with ischemic stroke, 135 patients (23.8%)were progressive during acute period . 49(44.5%) of 110 patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis, 48(50.5%) of 95 patients with carotid high-grade stenosis and 47(54.7%) of 86 patients with carotid ulcerated plaque. The frequency of progressive ischemic stroke in these patients was significantly higher than those patients without or with mild carotid atherosclerosis. The logistic regression analysis showed that the severity of carotid atherosclerosis, stenosis, ulcerated plaque were positively related to the progressive ischemic stroke. Conclusion There is a positive relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke in evolution. The severity of carotid atherosclerosis may be a risk predictor in stroke evolution.