Assessment of Extracranial Carotid Arteries in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Correlation with Risk Factors

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. An estimated 80% of strokes are thromboembolic in origin, often with carotid plaque as an embolic source. Carotid Doppler study is valuable to assess the cause, localization, extent and severity of extra cranial arterial stenosis. The aim of our work is to investigate the relation between Doppler findings in carotid artery disease and vascular risk factors in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We prospectively analyze 64 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke admitted within 24 hs of the onset of stroke symptoms. Carotid doppler ultrasonography was performed to all subjects. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement of both right and left sides of the common carotid arteries and internal carotid arteries were taken and degree of stenosis was calculated. Results: 53.1% of our patients were males and 46.9% were females with the mean Patient's age were 66.5(±10.0) years. The mean CIMT of our patients were 1.4±0.86 while stenosis was present in 50% of our patients. The vascular risk factors showed positive association with stenosis of carotid arteries, with the hypertention showed the strongest association. Also, the CIMT was significantly high in hypertensive (p Conclusion: carotid artery stenosis and CIMT was significantly correlated with the vascular risk factors of ischemic stroke.