Atherothrombosis - the neurologist's point of view

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have an increased risk of cerebral ischaemia, but many transient ischaemic attacks are not recognized by patients, or by physicians who are not neurologists. Similarly, PAD is common in stroke patients, but often remains unrecognized by neurologists. Major long-term risks in patients with cerebral ischaemia due to atherosclerosis are myocardial infarction and recurrence of stroke. Neurologists should consider concomitant PAD when choosing a treatment strategy. Patients with PAD need to be educated about their risk for cerebral ischaemic events, and physicians caring for PAD patients need to identify those individuals who may require carotid surgery. The appropriate strategy for prevention of stroke in PAD patients consists of optimal management of risk factors for stroke (smoking, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia), antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel as first-choice treatment, and carotid surgery in patients with high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery who are at low risk for surgery.