One year follow-up of patients clinically preselected for excessive risk of stroke.

From a consecutive series of 812 patients at risk of stroke we selected 100 who seemed to be at high risk (excessive stroke risk--ESR) on the following clinical criteria: either multiple reversible ischemic attacks in one carotid territory or multiple (or bilateral) severe stenotic carotid lesions. The patients of the first subgroup received medical therapy and those of the second were referred for surgery. The 100 patients were followed up for 12 months, during which 29 patients had cerebral ischemic events: 17 having stroke and 12 TIA. This study suggests that it is possible to identify beforehand subgroups of ESR patients, thereby facilitating the selection of patients for brain protection and avoiding huge trials of unselected cerebrovascular patients.