Role of atherosclerotic lesions of the aortic arch and proximal extracranial arteries in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the relation between aortic plaques and stroke, which is the third most common among the causes of death and disability.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 271 cervical CT angiography were analysed in our research. The investigations were evaluated for arcus aorta plaques and their morphologies, the plaques located in proximal cervical arteries and stenotic segments, intracranial arteriosclerosis and cerebral infarcts. The patient files were scanned and factors which might be related with infarct cause such as atrial fibrilation (AF), recent myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular aneurism, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), and hyperlipidemia were noted. The data were evaluated using SPSS program, and using ki square test for counted values, T test and correlation analysis for measured data. Simple and complex aortic plaques were compared with each other.RESULTS: In our chosen population, the incidence of aortic plaques were %59,4. There was a statistical correlation between incidence of arcus aorta plaques and, common carotic (CCA) artery wall thickness, bilateral CCA, cervical artery, intracranial carotic artery (ICA), vertebral and subclavian artery plaques. In patients with aortik arch plaque, left middle cerebral artery and carotic artery watershed area infarcts were seen significantly more common. When plaque thickness and infarct incidence were evaluated, left MCA infarcts (p:0,013) and carotic watershed area infarcts (p:0,019) were significantly associated with plaque thickness.When we compared the parameters which is related with left MCA infarcts, using logictic regression analysis.The arcus aorta plaque thickness was the only standing parameter.RESULTS: Our findings shows , in stroke patients especially with left MCA infarct, assesment of arcus aorta plaque thickness is necessary and CT angiography is a good preferable for investigation, regarding its valuable data providing capacity and practical usage.