Association between Carotid Atherosclerosis and the Size of Atherothrombotic Cerebral Infarction of the Homonymous Territory

Abstract

Introduction: Atherothrombotic disease of the cerebrospinal arteries accounts for 40% of the causes of cerebral infarction.

Objective: To determine the association between the size of atherothrombotic stroke of the anterior territory and bilateral carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study was carried out in 63 patients who attended Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Hospital with a diagnosis of recent atherothrombotic stroke of the carotid territory in the period between 2011 and 2013, who underwent cranial tomography and carotid Doppler ultrasound.

Results: Infarction size presented statistically significant association (p = 0.034) with predominant atheroma plaque stenosis in the homolateral carotid axis. The stability (p = 0.039) and number of plaques (p = 0.017) of the homolateral axis had a statistical significance with both homolateral stenosis and large infarction. In the contralateral axis, the same phenomenon occurred with stability (p = 0.000), contour (p = 0.029) and number of plaques (p = 0.008).

Conclusions: The contralateral axis atheroma plaque contour, the number of atheroma plaques and the stability of both axes are associated with large cerebral infarction and the presence of carotid axis stenosis. Bilateral significant stenosis is associated with the number of atheroma plaques in both carotid axes, a phenomenon indicative of the fact that they bring about a notable impact on cerebral hemodynamics and, consequently, on infarction size.