ISCHAEMIC STROKE

Objective: To determine the frequency of carotid atherosclerosis inischaemic stroke patients in our population using color Doppler ultrasound. Design: Observational. Place and Durationof study: This study was conducted in Medical Unit II of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from Oct 2002to Feb 2003. Subjects and Methods: All the patients admitted in our ward during this duration with CT scan proof ofstroke were included in the study. Risk factors in all these patients were stratified. Complete history and examinationwas done and carotid Doppler ultrasound was performed on all patients with ischaemic stroke according to the studyprotocol. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in this study following the above-mentioned protocol over aperiod of five months. 66% of these were having cerebral infarction. Hypertension (72%), diabetes (35%), smoking(29%) and obesity (20%) were the common risk factors in these patients. The frequency of significant carotidatherosclerosis in acute ischaemic stroke patients was 21%. Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound is non-invasive, safe andcost-effective modality for evaluation of carotid vessels. In symptomatic and high-risk group, it should be used as firstdiagnostic modality for management or selecting patients for further investigation.