[Comparative characteristics of arteriosclerosis of the aorta and arteries of the limbs (epidemiological study)].

In accordance with the WHO programme, the peculiarities of age dynamics of atherosclerosis of the aorta and of the peripheral arteries of the extremities were studied in male residents of Riga, aged 50-64 years. By way of the visual-planimetric method an assessment was made of 310 sets of aorta, common iliac, external iliac, femoral, innominate, subclavian, axillary and brachial arteries stained with Sudan IV. The age dynamics of atherosclerosis in all the studied arteries was represented by growing lesions with a simultaneous slight reduction of the lipoidosis area. The progress of atherosclerosis was irregular with the deceleration of the augmentation tempo in the beginning of the 7th decade of life. The atherosclerotic lesions of the arteries of the upper extremities were characterized by a considerable area of changes represented by flat fibrous plaques, and therefore by rare severe stenoses and absence of occlusions. The highest incidence and area of complicated lesions is found in the aorta. In the arteries of the lower extremities the area of atherocalcinosis was greater, and the incidence of stenoses and occlusions was high. Medium degree correlation was established between the indices of atherosclerosis prevalence in the aorta and the arteries of the extremities. The area of aortic lesions, however does not permit to judge the incidence of stenotic and occlusive lesions of the arteries of the extremities.