What Is the Evidence-Based Treatment for Carotid Artery Stenosis?
Carotid artery stenosis (ICD-10 I65.2; ICD-11 BD55) is managed with intensive, multi-component medical therapy in all patients. The protocol addresses lifestyle, antithrombotic protection, lipid lowering, blood pressure control, and glycemic management where relevant — each component guided by explicit clinical targets.
Treatment Approach
Management involves structured lifestyle modification alongside several classes of pharmacological therapy — the full sequence, agent selection, and targets are defined in the complete protocol.
Key Clinical Targets
- LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL), or <1.4 mmol/L (54 mg/dL) for very high-risk patients
- Blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg
- HbA1c <7.0% (where applicable)
References
- This includes lifestyle modification (Mediterranean diet, exercise, and smoking cessation) and pharmacological therapy (antiplatelets, lipid-lowering agents, blood pressure reduction, and glycemic control).
- Goal LDL <1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL; <1.4 mmol/L [54 mg/dL] for very high risk).
- Goal BP <130/80.
- Goal HbA1c <7.0%.
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033994
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