Medical management of carotid artery disease

It is estimated that more than 700,000 strokes occur in the United States annually, and stroke remains the third leading cause of death. As many as 20% of strokes are due to carotid artery disease. Approaches to therapy include surgery and stenting in appropriate settings, but medical therapy is a critical aspect of management of carotid artery disease. Best medical therapy for carotid stenosis has evolved in recent years and clinicians can now employ newer antiplatelet agents, aggressive use of statins, and targeted blood pressure reduction. Application of this multimodal cocktail holds promise for reducing vascular events in patients with carotid artery disease and may reduce the need for revascularization procedures.