Arterial blood flow and resistance in the forearm of arteriosclerotic patients

Twenty patient with severe atherosclerotic affection of the lower limbs, but without any symptoms of involvement of their upper extremities, and twenty healthy controls were examined. The investigation included measurement of arterial blood flow and resistance in the left forearm at rest and after a three-minute circulatory arrest, using a strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmograph. Comparison of the results obtained in each group showed statistically significant differences in haemodynamic parameters such as maximal blood flow, resting resistance, and minimal resistance which suggested the presence of vascular changes also in the upper extremities. Arterial resistance proved to be a more sensitive indicator of circulatory disorder than blood flow.