Peripheral macrohemodynamics in patients with lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans and type II diabetes mellitus

The paper presents characteristic features of lower limb atherosclerotic lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus: more prominent calcification of vascular wall (involving media), frequent involvement of distal vascular segments and a symmetry of lesions. Typical variants are shown in images obtained with duplex angioscanning. The authors conclude that there are no principal differences in the course of lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans between diabetics and non-diabetics. Nevertheless some special features were mentioned, particularly in clinical manifestation of intermittent claudication that can be attributed to concurrent diabetic neuropathy. Difficulties in clinical interpretation of lower limb arterial insufficiency for patients with diabetes mellitus determine the necessity of obligatory examination of peripheral vasculature. The authors advocate the discrete subclinical stage of the disease with increased rate of vascular accidents. The data may be interesting for angiologists, vascular surgeons, endocrine legists and other medical professions.