The relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction recurrence

Objective To study the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction recurrence.Methods Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed using Doppler ultrasonography in 278 patients with cerebral infarction.The duration of follow-up was 18 months,and the characteristics of carotid atherosclersis was compared between patients with and without recurrent cerebral infarction.Results The incidence rates of hypertension,hyperlipemia and diabetes mellitus were significantly higher in the patients with recurrent cerebral infarction than in the patients without recurrent cerebral infarction (P 0.05 ,P 0.01).The recurrence rate was significantly higher in the severe carotid stenosis group and the moderate carotid stenosis group than in the normal carotid group and the carotid slight stenosis group.The recurrence rate was significantly higher in the unstable carotid plaques group than in the normal carotid group and the stable carotid plaques group (P 0.05).Conclusions There is a positive correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction recuurrence.The severity of carotid atherosclerosis is a risk factor for cerebral infarction recurrence,and serves as a predictor of cerebral infarction recurrence.