RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of asymptomatic atherosclerosis of extracranial vessels among hypertensive patients in southern Egypt: An extracranial duplex study
JF Neurosciences Journal
JO Neurosciences (Riyadh)
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 386
OP 391
DO 10.17712/nsj.2020.5.20200034
VO 25
IS 5
A1 Shehata, Ghaydaa A.
A1 Abd-Elwahid, Lobna
A1 Fathy, Mohamed
A1 Nasreldein, Ahmed
YR 2020
UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/386.abstract
AB Objectives: The prevalence of atherosclerosis in extracranial vessels among hypertensive patients in southern Egypt is still unknown. Carotid ultrasound is an accurate method used to identify and follow patients with cerebrovascular disorders. The aim of our study is to detect the prevalence and pattern of extracranial atherosclerosis among those patients.Methods: Our case-control study was performed from January 2017 to January 2018, including 200 subjects, 100 patients recruited consecutively from the Hypertension Clinic in Assiut University hospitals, Egypt, and 100 healthy controls. Detailed history collection and thorough physical examinations were carried out for each patient. All subjects underwent extracranial ultrasound. We omitted patients with history of ischemic stroke and TIAs.Results: The presence of increased intima media thickness was detected in 37 patients (37%). 22 patients (22%) had internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, 17 patients (17%) had non-significant stenosis <50%, while five patients (5%) had stenosis 50-69%. 9% had stenosis < 50% in vertebral artery. In addition, age and uncontrolled hypertension have a greater impact on increasing the CCA intima media thickness, which is considered an early sign of atherosclerosis.Conclusions: Uncontrolled hypertension is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and hence ischemic stroke (IS). The cost of screening is considered low compared to IS management. Greater emphasis should be directed toward regular screening programs in this risky population.