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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Brain Ischemia, Carotid Artery, Common, Carotid Stenosis, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Japan, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Stroke, Ultrasonography.
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Is extracranial carotid plaque increasing in Japanese ischemic stroke patients? Context: The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of extracranial carotid plaque and the association between risk factors and carotid plaque in Japanese patients with ischemic stroke. We consecutively recruited patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to September 2002. Neurologic signs and a brain magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed ischemic stroke. All subjects underwent a carotid ultrasonography. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors that independently contributed to the presence of carotid plaques. Carotid plaques were identified in 76.2% of the patients and bilateral plaques were found in 58.2%. These lesions were more frequent in comparison with previous Japanese reports. The risk factors that independently contributed to the presence of extracranial carotid plaques were hypertension, age, smoking and past history of ischemic stroke.
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This study demonstrates that extracranial carotid plaque is increasing in Japanese patients with ischemic stroke. Final Decision: yes