[Investigation of obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs, by muscular scintigraphy using thallium (author's transl)].

The behaviour of thallium is similar to that of potassium. It participates in transmembrane exchanges and accumulates within the cells, in particular muscle cells. The subjects being at rest or at the maximum phase of an effort test, an injection of 2 mCi of thallium 201 as given. Quantitative scintigraphies were performed during the minutes following injection. Ten control subjects were studied in this way. Uptake of thallium in the muscle masses of the lower limbs was symmetrical and homogeneous and was more marked after effort. Acute ischemia for a few minutes was obtained using a tourniquet in a volunteer. The ischemic area was clearly seen on the early scintigraphy. There was redistribution of thallium in the later scintigraphic studies. Fifteen patients with obliterative arterial disease underwent scintigraphy at rest and after effort. Good agreement was found between arteriography, measurement of pressures, plethysmography and deficiencies demonstrated by scintigraphy. The effort test, by inducing transient ischemia, was useful in detecting moderate circulatory disturbances.