Key result
Carotid plaques increased the risk of anterior circulation infarction in asymptomatic elderly patients, regardless of plaque location.
Why the study?
Does the presence of carotid plaques increase the risk of stroke and subtypes of cerebral infarction in asymptomatic elderly subjects?
Cohort (n=4,217)
Does the presence of carotid plaques increase the risk of stroke and subtypes of cerebral infarction in asymptomatic elderly subjects?
In asymptomatic elderly subjects, the presence of carotid plaques is associated with an increased risk of anterior circulation infarction, suggesting it acts as both a marker of atherosclerosis and a source of emboli.
May refine stroke risk stratification in asymptomatic elderly; leaves open whether plaque-targeted interventions reduce infarcts.
Hollander M, Bots ML, del Sol AI, et al. Carotid plaques increase the risk of stroke and subtypes of cerebral infarction in asymptomatic elderly: The Rotterdam Study. Circulation 2002;105:2872–7. The Rotterdam study included 4,217 neurologically asymptomatic subjects aged 55 years and older. A study was undertaken to understand the relationship between the location of plaque and the risk and subtype of stroke. The study demonstrated an increased risk of anterior circulation infarction in patients with carotid plaques, regardless of location. The author's conclusion is that carotid plaque is both a marker of generalized atherosclerosis and a source of emboli.
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Thomas R. Mizen (2003) conducted a cohort in Neurologically asymptomatic (n=4,217). Carotid plaques vs. Absence of carotid plaques was evaluated on Risk and subtype of stroke (anterior circulation infarction). Carotid plaques increased the risk of anterior circulation infarction in asymptomatic elderly patients, regardless of plaque location.
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