title: The original calibre of the lower limbs arteries as a possible risk factor for complications of atherosclerosis: a statistical investigation in 90 subjects by echocolor-doppler.
abstract: Ninety subjects with emodynamically significant atherosclerotic disease of the lower limbs were examined. They had no history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Each subject underwent a color Doppler ultrasonographic study of the common iliac, superficial femoral, and popliteal arteries. In each arterial segment, diameter and blood flow velocity were measured. In evaluating the hemodynamic significance of the stenoses, we used the Windsor method. In a comparison of the calibers of the arteries significant relationship emerged in each given subject in two sexes. Males: a statistically significant difference was found only in the iliac artery, in which the calibre and Windsor indices were greater in the right as compared to the left; right: 1) There was a statistically significant relationship between mean caliber and Windsor indices, (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05). Females: Student's t test for paired samples of the three arteries did not reveal a statistically significant predominance of one side over the other. With respect to the coefficients of correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices, the results were as follows. Right: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between age and mean calibre (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulisano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brizzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color