[Peripheral arterial occlusive disease in old age: the role of leukocytes]

Transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcPO2), the unfractionated leukocyte filterability rate (ULFR), and plasma oxydant activity (POA) were monitored during a standard treadmill exercise test (2 km/h, 12 degrees slope) in two groups of stage-II peripheral vascular disease patients: one middle-aged group with an average age of 55 +/- 3 s.d. years, the other group elderly (average age 68 +/- 4 s.d. years). The results were compared to a healthy control group of 20 volunteers (average age 52 +/- 4 s.d. years). At the maximum walking time, the ULFR was significantly (p less than 0.001) impaired in both groups of patients compared to controls, and the level of plasma oxidant activity increased significantly (p less than 0.001). When the tcPO2 recovered half its basal value, the level of plasma oxidant activity approached basal values but the ULFR remained significantly (p less than 0.001) impaired. Inter-group analysis showed the total walking time was significantly (p less than 0.05) shorter in the elderly patients, and at the tcPO2 half recovery time the ULFR was significantly (p less than 0.01) more impaired.