Vulnerability of atherosclerotic carotid disease: changing paradigms? <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Objective: This review aproachs clinical aspects of carotid disease, the current indications of surgical intervention, and the concepts about vulnerable lesion, and morphologic characterization of the plaque.
Data base: Pappers from Medline database between 1986 and 2006 were consult. Original contribuitions and systematic reviews were selected with Evidence Based Medicine criteria, excluding case report or brief communications.
Findings: There are several evidences that sorological markers and same morphological characteristics of atheroma, showed at imaging, can be correlated with ischemic cerebral events.
Conclusion: The vulnerable carotid plaque identification could change current indication of intervention, still based on angiographic grade of stenosis.
KEY WORDS: CAROTID ARTERY DISEASES; CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS; ENDARTERECTOMY, CAROTID; BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; SEPSIS SYNDROME; ATHEROSCLEROSIS.