[Vascular diseases in the elderly]

Obliterary artery diseases are not confined to the elderly but on the other hand a higher rate of acute symptoms in old age is observed because of multiple influences of the hemodynamics. Furthermore in old age only rarely a reversal of these symptoms takes place. In the underlying paper the several regions of the body which may be changed by the obliteration of the arteries are discussed. In addition the question of therapy will be taken into consideration. In general the therapeutic regimes will be the same as in younger age: muscle training of the legs, local lysis by catheter, late fibrinolysis, hemodilution, rheologically acting substances, along with an active interval training or a transluminal dilatation by catheter or a surgical intervention. Relevant concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension and their relevance for obliterative vessel diseases will especially be stressed.