RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the roles of demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors on the progression of atherosclerotic stenosis in carotid bifurcation. It was based on prospective information from records entered on a specific application form for follow-up outpatients at a tertiary university service. METHODS: Consecutive symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (n = 210) who had undergone more than one carotid duplex scan but no surgical intervention were selected for the analysis. The patients were divided into two groups: patients whose duplex scans did not show bilateral progression of carotid stenosis and patients with carotid stenosis progression of <50%, 50%-69%, or >70%. Clinical and demographic parameters were compared between groups. RESULTS: Group II levels of plasma urea (51.6 ± 27.8 mg/dl) and fibrinogen (493.2 ± 113.3 mg/dl) were higher than the Group I levels (43.0 ± 14.9 mg/dl and 441.3 ± 106.7 mg/dl, respectively) with statistical significance (p urea = 0.013 and p fibrinogen = 0.018). Paradoxically, the mean body mass index was higher in Group I (26.4 ± 4.6 kg/m(2)) than in Group II (24.6 ± 3.9 kg/m(2); p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Traditional risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis in a carotid bifurcation are important but not unique. Metabolic and inflammatory factors can contribute to disease progression.