[Demineralisation of bone in chronic arterial insufficiency (author's transl)].

125I-nuclide-absorption measurement demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in mineral content of the calcaneus in 44 patients with arteriographically proven arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs. The loss of mineral content was dependent on the clinical degree of the vascular disorder (stages according to Fontaine's classification) and the site of the arterial occlusion. There was no demonstrable relationship between the degree of demineralisation and the duration of the vascular disorder. If treatment proved successful there was a significant rise in the mineral content of the calcaneus.