ABSTRACT
CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE Carotid artery disease is common in patients with coronary artery disease and has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations (asymptomatic carotid bruit, transient ischemic attack, or stroke). Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults in the United States and is the third leading cause of death. There are approximately 750,000 new or recurrent strokes each year and 150,000 deaths and population-based studies have indicated an increase in incidence over the past 20 years as the population continues to age.
