Currently, ischemic cerebral vascular accident (ICVA; stroke) is an illness with a high incidence and a high mortality rate [1,2]. In Brazil, depending on the state of the Brazilian Federation and the period analyzed, cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality [3]. Moreover, survivors present a continuous risk of developing serious complications [4]. Carotid atherosclerotic disease is the cause of approximately 15 to 20% of cerebrovascular accidents [5]. Carotid stenosis is present in 7% of men and 5% of women aged 65 years or older [6]. In serious cases (>70% stenosis), stenosis is an important cause of ICVA and transient ischemic attack (TIA). The estimated risk of ipsilateral ICVA in 5 years is 4% in the population without carotid stenosis; the risk increases to 18% in patients with asymptomatic stenosis above 75% and reaches 27% in symptomatic patients with stenosis >75% [7]. Several authors have described risk factors associated with carotid atherosclerosis, such as age, smoking, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and male gender [4,8,9]. 2. Treatment of carotid stenosis Treatment options for carotid stenosis include medication or surgery [10-12]. Clinical treatment includes antiplatelet agents and statins associated with the control of risk factors such as arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, diabetes, and smoking [13]. Relevant studies comparing the outcomes of clinical treatment and surgery showed an important