The prevalence of carotid artery disease in patients presenting with amaurosis fugax.

Ninety-five patients with amaurosis fugax were investigated for extracranial carotid artery disease. A doppler system combining imaging with spectrum analysis was used. Stenosis (greater than 25 per cent) and occlusion of the ipsilateral extracranial internal carotid artery occurred in 30 per cent and 26 per cent of patients respectively. The association of amaurosis fugax with ipsilateral carotid disease is highly significant. The role of this Doppler technique in the investigation of patients with amaurosis fugax is considered.