Title:Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Author(s): Mirza Jusufovic, Else Charlotte Sandset, Karolina Skagen and Mona Skjelland
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Carotid artery stenosis, medical management, blood pressure, antihypertensive therapy, ACE and renin inhibitors,
diuretics.
Abstract: Stroke is the second most common cause of death and the most common cause of disability
worldwide. Up to 30% of ischaemic strokes are caused by carotid atherosclerosis, usually due to
thromboemboli from an atherosclerotic plaque at the carotid bifurcation. High blood pressure is an
important risk factor for atherosclerosis, the development of unstable carotid plaques, and ischaemic
strokes. Differentiation between asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis is critical to
treatment management because of the difference in natural history. Intensive medical treatment
including blood pressure lowering medication reduces the risk of both primary and secondary
vascular events in patients at risk. This review summarises recent data on blood pressure management
in patients with carotid artery stenosis.