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Updated: May 4, 2026
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Management strategies for asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gowri Raman1, Denish Moorthy1, Nira Hadar2
1Tufts Center for Clinical Evidence Synthesis, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Insights
Adults with asymptomatic carotid stenosis face higher stroke risks. Current evidence on carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and stenting (CAS) versus medical therapy is limited, necessitating further research on optimal treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis increases stroke risk.
- Optimal management strategies require comparative evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare management strategies for asymptomatic carotid stenosis.
- To assess stroke incidence with medical therapy alone.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of RCTs and comparative studies.
- Searched MEDLINE, Cochrane, FDA documents up to December 2012.
- Extracted data on study characteristics, outcomes, and bias.
Main Results:
- 47 studies reviewed; RCTs on CAS vs. CEA were heterogeneous.
- CEA showed stroke reduction vs. medical therapy, but applicability is uncertain.
- Medical therapy alone had an ipsilateral stroke incidence of 1.68% per year.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic carotid stenosis definitions varied.
- RCT participants did not receive optimal medical therapy.
- Future trials should evaluate revascularization against best medical therapy.
Background:
Adults with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis are at increased risk for ipsilateral carotid territory ischemic stroke.
Purpose:
To examine comparative evidence on management strategies for asymptomatic carotid stenosis and the incidence of ipsilateral stroke with medical therapy alone.
Data Sources:
MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, U.S. Food and Drug Administration documents, and review of references through 31 December 2012.
Study Selection:
Randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective or retrospective nonrandomized, comparative studies of medical therapy alone, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) plus medical therapy, or carotid artery stenting (CAS) plus medical therapy for adults with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, as well as single-group prospective cohort studies of medical therapy, were reviewed.
Data Extraction:
Two investigators extracted information on study and population characteristics, results, and risk of bias.
Data Synthesis:
Forty-seven studies in 56 publications were eligible. The RCTs comparing CAS and CEA were clinically heterogeneous; 1 RCT reported more but not statistically significant ipsilateral stroke events (including any periprocedural stroke) in CAS compared with CEA, whereas another RCT, in a population at high surgical risk for CEA, did not. Three RCTs showed that CEA reduced the risk for ipsilateral stroke (including any periprocedural stroke) compared with medical therapy alone, but these results may no longer be applicable to contemporary clinical practice. No RCT compared CAS versus medical therapy alone. The summary incidence of ipsilateral stroke across 26 cohorts receiving medical therapy alone was 1.68% per year.
Limitations:
Studies defined asymptomatic status heterogeneously. Participants in RCTs did not receive best-available medical therapy.
Conclusion:
Future RCTs of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis should explore whether revascularization interventions provide benefit to patients treated by best-available medical therapy.
Primary Funding Source:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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