Enzyme activities in skeletal muscles from patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency

The enzyme pattern in gastrocnemius muscle tissue was studied in 39 patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency. Phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase were significantly increased in the skeletal muscles from these patients. The most pronounced changes were found in 3-OH-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and in cytochrome-c-oxidase. These enzyme activities were increased by 60, 40 and 25 per cent respectively. In patients with claudication as the only symptom, the metabolic capacity was generally increased in skeletal muscles affected by the low blood flow. With increasing severity of arterial insufficiency, all enzyme activities decreased and glycolytic enzymes were affected first. 3-OH-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and cytochrome-c-oxidase activities were still comparatively high in patients with gangrenous foot ulcers, indicating some maintenance of the muscle viability even in situations with very low blood flow.