[Noninvasive assessment of the elastic properties and diameter of the major arterial vessels of the extremities in atherosclerosis].

A noninvasive method for the evaluation of the elastic properties of the major arterial vessels (the shoulder and lower third of the foot) in patients with arteriosclerosis and in healthy persons was previously worked out to study: elastic resistance of the intact and relaxed vascular wall, modulus of bulk elasticity, an internal (equivalent) vascular radius and some arterial pressure indices. A significant increment of elastic resistance of the relaxed wall of the arterial vessels was found in arteriosclerosis as compared to the control group which was unrelated directly with raised arterial pressure and could be used for diagnostic purposes. The presence of a high assymetry in a number of indices of the elastic behavior of the vascular wall on the same extremities suggested heterotopy and heterochronia of the changes observed.