[Stenoses and occlusions of the extracranial arteries. A field study of unselected subjects and patients with intermittent claudication].

Doppler sonography of the extracranial arteries was done in 556 unselected patients (greater than 40 years) in a prophylactic study. 226 high risk patients with arterial occlusive leg disease (AOD) served as control group. Doppler sonography revealed stenoses or occlusions of the carotid, vertebral and (or) subclavian arteries in 9.17% of normal persons and in 38.05% of AOD patients. Medical treatment is available only for stenoses (not occlusions) of the carotid arteries. Thus the frequency of asymptomatic internal carotid stenoses--only stenoses of more than 50% lumen diminution can be detected--of 2.33% in the group of normal probands and of 17.2% in the patient group is the reference value and justification for use of Doppler sonography for prophylactic assessment. The atraumatic and safe method with a success rate of 2.33% is suitable particularly in increased risk factors (age, males, smoking, hypertension, diabetes). As a prophylactic investigation in patients with arterial occlusive disease Doppler sonography is mandatory before prospective operations.