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Arteriopatía carotídea - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Estenosis carotídea; Estenosis de la carótida

Definición:

Las arterias carótidas suministran el riego sanguíneo principal al cerebro. Allí, las arterias carótidas se localizan a cada lado del cuello bajo la línea de la mandíbula.

La arteriopatía carotídea es una afección en la cual estas arterias resultan estrechas o bloqueadas. Cuando las arterias se estrechan, la afección se denomina estenosis carotídea.

Causas:

La arteriopatía carotídea ocurre cuando sustancias pegajosas y grasas llamadas placa se acumulan en el revestimiento interno de las arterias. Ver: ateroesclerosis (endurecimiento de las arterias)

La placa puede lentamente bloquear o estrechar la arteria carótida o provocar la formación de un coágulo (trombo). Los coágulos pueden llevar a un accidente cerebrovascular.

Los factores de riesgo para el bloqueo o estrechamiento de las arterias abarcan:

  • Hipertensión arterial
  • Diabetes
  • Cardiopatía
  • Colesterol alto
  • Consumo excesivo de alcohol
  • Enfermedad renal, sobre todo cuando se necesita diálisis
  • Consumo de cocaína
  • Antecedentes familiares de accidente cerebrovascular
  • Mayor edad

El tabaquismo también es un factor de riesgo e incrementa el riesgo de la mayoría de los tipos de accidente cerebrovascular. Las personas que fuman un paquete al día tienen un riesgo de más del doble de sufrir accidente cerebrovascular en comparación con los no fumadores.

Dos afecciones raras llamadas síndrome de Marfan y displasia fibromuscular (crecimiento o desarrollo anormal de células en las paredes de las arterias carótidas) también pueden causar estrechamiento de estas arterias.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/28/2009 12:00:00 AM
  • Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Goldstein LB. Prevention and management of stroke. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Saunders;2007:chap 58.

Zivin JA. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 432.

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