[Otological symptoms due to disturbances of the major extracranial arteries (author's transl)].

127 patients with pulseless disease were compared with normal persons of the same age group, localization and distribution of the occlusions, risk factors and complaints were analysed. Pulseless disease occurs predominantly in elderly men. In all patients, occlusions were found more often in the left supraaortic branches than in the right side. In men, stenosis of the left subclavian artery, in women stenosis of the right carotid artery is found most frequently. In most cases only one aortic branch was diseased. Vertigo, tinnitus and deafness was encountered in 32 patients (25.20%) but only in 3 persons of the control group (2.36%). In 29 of these 32 patients uni- or bilateral stenosis of the carotid artery was present. In the cases with unilateral stenosis (16) tinnitus and deafness could be localized to the respective side. In the other cases an isolated stenosis of the subclavian artery was found. In the 32 patients with otogenic symptoms hypertension was the risk factor number 1. Early diagnosis by only auscultation and palpation as well as medical treatment is pointed out.