Parathyroid gland function and the possibility of its correction in patients with obliterative vascular disease of the lower limbs.

Parathyroid gland function and the possibility of its correction were studied in 43 patients with obliterative vascular disease of the lower limbs, and in 24 healthy, mostly male, controls. Parathormone (PTH) concentrations in blood plasma samples were determined by radioimmunoassay. Patients with obliterative vascular diseases of the lower limbs were found to have increased activity of parathyroid gland. The role played by hyperparathyroidism in the pathogenesis of obliterative vascular diseases of the lower limbs as well as the possibility of its correction by betablocker and encephalin analogue administration is discussed.