A Randomized Trial of Carotid Artery Stenting With and Without Cerebral Protection

Inclusion Criteria: * To participate in this study, the subject MUST have all of the following for inclusion in the study: • The subject (male or non-pregnant female) must be \> 18 years of age. • The subject should have a stenosis in the common or internal carotid artery of at least 70% determined by one of the modalities listed below. • The subject should be considered a relatively high risk for carotid endarterectomy. This determination has to be made and documented by two physicians, at least one of who must be a vascular surgeon acting as an investigator on this trial. High risk considerations should include at least one of the following: 1. Cardiac dysfunction. NYHA class III or above, compensated or active congestive heart failure (CHF), incomplete coronary revascularization, ejection fraction of \<35%, pulmonary hypertension, or recommendation of a cardiologist against open CEA. 2. Pulmonary dysfunction, history of respiratory failure, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD) on bronchodilators or recommendation of a pulmonary specialist against open CEA. 3. Multi-system dysfunction, defined as any combination of medical problems in three distinct systems. 4. Anatomic issues: previous CEA or neck dissection, neck irradiation, inaccessible lesions, neck fusion or other anatomic considerations increasing the risk of CEA. 5. Age \>80 AND symptomatic (defined below) 6. General debilitation documented by the subject's primary physician. 7. Increased anesthetic risk as documented by an anesthesiologist. * Subjects can be either clinically symptomatic or asymptomatic (less than 80 years of age). Symptomatic subjects will have experienced an event within the previous 120 days in the ipsilateral carotid artery distribution. The event will be classified as either 1) one or more TIAs, characterized by distinct focal neurologic dysfunction or monocular blindness with clearing of signs and symptoms within 24 hours, or 2) one or more completed strokes (as defined by this protocol) with persistence of symptoms or signs for more than 24 hours (the most recent event is used as the qualifying event). \*\*Patients with major non-hemorrhagic strokes will be included if their clinical status has been stable for 5 days (based on an exam performed by a neurologist participating as a Co-Investigator in this trial). * If an angiogram is performed to qualify the subject, it should be as recent as feasible and will not be acceptable if done \> 120 days from study entry. Angiograms from other institutions will be acceptable. * Other non-invasive qualifying imaging modalities include: <!-- --> 1. Duplex ultrasound (DU) performed at UPMC Presbyterian or Shadyside hospitals. 2. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) performed at UPMC Presbyterian or Shadyside hospitals. 3. Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) performed at UPMC Presbyterian or Shadyside hospitals. * The degree of stenosis from these non-invasive studies has to be confirmed on the pre-deployment diagnostic angiography prior to proceeding with stent deployment. * However, if two of the non-invasive studies listed above report a stenosis of \>70%, AND the pre-deployment angiogram reveals a 50 -70% stenosis, the patient will be randomized and entered into the trial as the angiogram can on occasion underestimate the stenosis. * Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a documented negative pregnancy test during the index hospitalization. * The subject must sign a written informed consent, prior to the procedure, using a form that is approved by the local Institutional Review Board or Medical Ethics Committee. * If a patient's creatinine is 3.5 or greater, their nephrologist must clear them to participate in the trial. Exclusion Criteria: * To participate in this study, the subject may NOT HAVE any of the following at enrollment to the study: * The subject has had an intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, or any stroke with mass effect demonstrated on CT scan or MRI within 30 days of the index procedure. * The subject has a persisting ischemic stroke (defined as either a score \> 15 on the NIH stroke scale, a Rankin score \> 3 or a Barthel score \< 60 measured within one week prior to study entry). * The subject has an intracranial mass lesion (i.e., abscess, tumor, or other infection). * The subject has known allergies to heparin, to both ticlopidine and clopidogrel or to metals used in stents. * There is any visual angiographic evidence of intraluminal thrombus thought to increase the risk of plaque fragmentation and distal embolization. * The subject has peripheral vascular, supra-aortic or internal carotid artery tortuosity precluding use of catheter-based techniques required for successful results. * The subject, if female, has a positive pregnancy test. * The subject has an arterio-venous malformation in the territory of the target carotid artery. * Subjects with highly calcified lesions resistant to predilation by PTA * The subject has unstable angina (defined as Class IV or at rest), evolving MI or recent MI (within 14 days). * The subject has any condition that precludes adequate local hemostasis. * Patients who are not candidates for MRI scanning (pacemaker, etc).