The carotid plaque imaging in acute stroke (CAPIAS) study: protocol and initial baseline data

Background: In up to 30% of patients with ischemic stroke no
definite etiology can be established. A significant proportion of
cryptogenic stroke cases may be due to non-stenosing
atherosclerotic plaques or low grade carotid artery stenosis not
fulfilling common criteria for atherothrombotic stroke. The aim of
the CAPIAS study is to determine the frequency, characteristics,
clinical and radiological long-term consequences of ipsilateral
complicated American Heart Association lesion type VI (AHA-LT VI)
carotid artery plaques in patients with cryptogenic stroke.
Methods/Design: 300 patients (age > 49 years) with unilateral
DWI-positive lesions in the anterior circulation and non- or
moderately stenosing (