Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis

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.

Cite this article as:

Jusufovic Mirza, Charlotte Sandset Else, Skagen Karolina and Skjelland Mona, Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis, Current Hypertension Reviews 2016; 12 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340211202160525010133