Etiology

Arteriosclerosis is responsible for the large majority of lesions of the carotid. Atheromatous plaque (atheroma) is made of an accumulation of lipids (fats), sugars, as well as fibrous tissues and calciferous deposits in the artery wall. Complications occur when pieces of the plaque break off inside the artery which can cause a cerebral embolism or an obstruction of the artery. These atheromas will especially build up around bifurcations due to turbulences in the blood flow. The apparition of arteriosclerosis can be favored by cardio-vascular risk factors such as : tobacco, hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes.

Epidemiology

Stroke is the 3rd cause of death in industrialized countries.

140 000 people suffer from strokes every year in France.

80% of them are due to ischemia (lack of blood flow).