Natural history of carotid artery stenosis contralateral to endarterectomy: results from two randomized prospective trials.

Purpose: A few nonrandomized studies have reported the natural history of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) contralateral to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This study analyzed this condition with data from two randomized prospective trials.

Methods: The contralateral carotid arteries in 534 patients from two randomized trials that compared CEA with primary closure versus patching were followed up clinically and with duplex ultrasound scanning at 1 month and then every 6 months.

Natural history of > or =60% asymptomatic carotid stenosis in patients with contralateral carotid occlusion.

Objective: Although the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) reported that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is beneficial for patients with asymptomatic > or =60% carotid stenosis (ACS), several other studies have reported mixed results. Our prospective study analyzed the natural history of > or =60% ACS in patients with contralateral carotid occlusion (CCO).

Patient Population And Methods: During a 10-year period, patients with 60-<70% ACS with CCO were entered into a protocol of clinical examination and duplex surveillance every 6 months.