Is beta-blocker use associated with lower stroke and death after carotid artery stenting?
Postprocedural hypertension and hypotension that require treatment are both strongly associated with periprocedural stroke/death after CAS. Beta blockers significantly reduce the stroke/death risk associated with carotid stenting and should be investigated prospectively for potential use during CAS.
A majority of patients with RA seen between 1980 and 2004 had abnormal ESR, CRP, or RF. However, more than 37% of patients had ESR < 28 mm/h, normal CRP, or all negative RF tests. Similarities of laboratory test data at 2 sites on different continents with different duration of disease suggest generalizability of the findings. Normal ESR, CRP, and RF are seen in a substantial proportion of patients with RA at this time.