[Cardiac findings and vascular calcification in arteriosclerotic obstructive disease in the pelvis and leg region. I].

In 117 patients with angiographically ascertained arteriosclerotic obstructive disease in the region of pelvis and leg the smoking of cigarettes in a high degree confirmed itself as atherogenic factor of risk. The rate of hypertension of patients with vascular disease was increased in comparison with the average population. In contrast to a control group of test persons who after clinical angiological examination did not give a clue to a vascular disease the patients with vascular diseases shows a significantly higher percentage of radiologically visible calcifications in the region of the abdominal aorta, the iliacal and the peripheral arteries of the legs. The calcification of the vessels were generalized in 85%. Apart from the calcification of the abdominal aorta the sclerosis was visible above all in the vascular are switched after the obstruction. There were no differences between normotonic and hypertonic patients with vascular diseases concerning the state of sclerosis. Clear correlations between the proof of sclerosations of the vessels and the apparative angiologically measurable narrowing of the vascular system are not known. Nevertheless in our opinion the calcification of the arteries of the legs in younger patients may be regarded as a reference to a disturbance of the arterial blood supply which must be clarified. The densitometrically established content of calcium salt in the calcaneus showed a dependance on the formation of collaterals and the state of sclerosis in the corresponding type of obstruction and may give a quantitative measure for the degree of severity of an ischaemic osteoporosis.