ESC consensus statement on stroke risk management in carotid atherosclerotic disease: 10 key points

Despite unquestionable progress in pharmacologic therapies, carotid atherosclerotic disease (CarAD) remains an important cause of stroke, often disabling or fatal.1,2 Carotid stenosis is also a marker of overall cardiovascular risk.1,3 Advancements in imaging and pharmacology, progress in acute stroke management, and evidence from recent clinical trials and registries have markedly expanded the knowledge base for clinical decisions in CarAD.1,3<br/><br/>Medical specialties central to managing CarAD patients include neurology, radiology, stroke medicine, cardiology, angiology, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, neuroradiology, and neurosurgery. CarAD management guidelines from the different professional societies may vary in methodology and perspective, posing a challenge to consistence of patient care.1<br/><br/>To develop an effective consensus update on the contemporary management of CarAD, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) set up a multispecialty panel with experts from Europe and the USA. A diverse author group, including key opinion leaders of the different non-interventional and interventional specialties, enabled—along with a patient’s interests representative—a balanced approach to creating a comprehensive knowledge base for contemporary clinical decisions. The 10 key points of the document1 are summarized below.