Carotid artery disease is one of the major causes of ischaemic stroke. In fact around 50% of ischaemic strokes result from thromboembolism due to disease in the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery.
The commonest site for disease is the origin of the internal carotid artery, thought to be due to haemodynamic phenomenon in this region. Thromboembolism is thought to occur when a previously ‘stable’ atherosclerotic plaque becomes ‘unstable’ (rupture, ulceration, intraplaque haemorrhage). This predisposes to formation of overlying thrombus that can dislodge and cause various symptoms.
The underlying disease process in carotid disease is atherosclerosis and therefore the risk factors are the same as those for PVD.
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