Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis

Stroke is the second most common cause of death and the most common cause of disability worldwide. Up to 30% of ischaemic strokes are caused by carotid atherosclerosis, usually due to thromboemboli from an atherosclerotic plaque at the carotid bifurcation. High blood pressure is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, the development of unstable carotid plaques, and ischaemic strokes. Differentiation between asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis is critical to treatment management because of the difference in natural history. Intensive medical treatment including blood pressure lowering medication reduces the risk of both primary and secondary vascular events in patients at risk. This review summarises recent data on blood pressure management in patients with carotid artery stenosis.