Diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans by impedance technique with special reference to relative blood flow of the lower extremity.

Simultaneous recordings of impedance cardiography of the chest and impedance plethysmography of the lower extremity were performed on 105 limbs with or without arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) documented by angiography. The ratios of blood flow to the lower extremity--leg stroke volume/cardiac stroke volume--(LSV/CSV) were 11.2 +/- 3.3% in normal male subjects, 11.1 +/- 5.5% in normal female subjects, and 3.1 +/- 1.2% in lower extremities with ASO, respectively. The normal value (range) for LSV/CSV calculated from the normal groups by the percentile method was between 4.9% and 17.8%, and the diagnostic accuracy of this value was 100% for sensitivity and 97.5% for specificity. LSV/CSV is a good index for the diagnosis of ASO and makes it possible to minimize error when expressed as an absolute value.