[Changes in the arteries in the hand and fingers due to vinyl chloride exposure (author's transl)]

The results of angiography of the hand in workers in the vinyl chloride industry are described. Amongst 93 patients, there were 19 on whom angiograms of the hand were performed because of Raynaud-like changes, pain or other pathological findings. All patients examined by angiography showed abnormalities in the vessels in the hands and fingers of varying severity. Vascular occlusions (17 patients), stenoses (9 patients) and thread-like narrowing of the digital arteries (6 patients) with the development of a collateral circulation, were prominent findings. In addition there was elongation and tortuosity of the digital arteries (14 patients) which were regarded as cirsoid aneurysms. The angiographic findings have been correlated with the known histological changes.