[Early atheromatosis. Study of a series of 55 cases of arteritis of the lower limbs in young adults].

The study of 55 cases of atheromatous arteritis, representing 67.6 p. cent of the arteriopathies observed in young adults, permits to emphasize the following three points: 1) the classical risk factors of atheroma are frequently identified, but the importance of these multiple risk factors must be stressed; 2) aorto-iliac segmental forms represent a type of lesion which is rather typical of arteritis in young patients; an elective aorto-iliac involvement was noted in 56.3 p. cent of cases, beside more diffuse forms resembling the usual atheromatous forms; 3) the evolutive potential of these arteriopathies is difficult to evaluate and the type of lesion caused by arterial overload seems to be the most interesting factor to do so.