Atheromatous disease of the thoracic aorta and systemic embolism. Clinical picture and therapeutic challenge.

Systemic embolism is a frequent cause of stroke. At the beginning of the last decade by introduction of transesophageal echocardiography and other imaging techniques atheromatosis of the aortic arch has been recognized as an important source of embolism. Formerly in the pre-TEE era, this entity was included into cryptogenic strokes. Aortic atheromas are found in about one quarter of patients presenting with embolic events. The severity of atherosclerosis graded by TEE correlates with the risk for future embolism, especially if mobile lesions or superimposed thrombi are present. Independent of plaque extension, patients with unstable plaques characterized by echo-lucency, inhomogenity, lacking of calcifications, ulceration, mobile parts and concomitant spontaneous echo contrast within the aorta have a higher risk for embolic events. However, the diagnosis of aortic atheromatosis is mostly established if an embolic event has already occurred. Therefore, it is important to identify patients at risk, especially before they undergo interventions with manipulation at the aorta like coronary bypass surgery. Risk factors are age above 70, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension, aortic calcifications on standard chest X-ray, elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein, other inflammatory markers, and an activated coagulation. Randomized studies for treatment of patients with severe aortic atheromatosis are not yet existing. Warfarin has been shown to prevent stroke in patients with mobile atheromas and superimposed thrombi, but there are case reports about aggravation of cholesterol embolism under warfarin treatment. It is concluded from other atherosclerotic manifestations that plaque stabilizing treatment with statins and ACE inhibitors is also beneficial.