Introduction: Ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is often a sequel of atherosclerotic disease. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a surrogate marker of early atherosclerotic changes. Aim of our study was to see if increased CIMT co-related with increased risk of stroke using carotid artery Doppler duplex ultrasonography. Methods: Ours was prospective observational study including 300 patients who were divided into 2 groups: CVA group (n = 150) and non-CVA group (n = 150). Noninvasive measurements of the intima and media of the common carotid artery (CCA) were performed with high-resolution ultrasonography in all the patients in both the groups. Results: Age range of the patients was 33 to 72. CIMT was significantly increased in CVA patients (0.77 ± 0.35 mm) compared to nonCVA patients (0.57 ± 0.15 mm) on both right and left CCA. The significance of difference persisted in patients with associated comorbidities, e.g. hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smokers. Conclusion: Increased CIMT of the CCA, measured noninvasively by Doppler ultrasonography are associated with increased risk of CVA.

Keywords: CIMT; Stroke; Duplex.