title: The relation of coronary and peripheral arterial disease to the severity of femoral atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The extent of atherosclerosis in the superficial femoral artery and the severity of arterial disease in the aorto-iliac and femoro-popliteal arterial districts were related to clinical diagnosis of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolaemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study constitutes baseline cross-sectional data of a randomized double-blind clinical trial on Probucol, using both computer based and visual estimations of angiographies as endpoints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and ninety men and women (mean age 54 years) with hypercholesterolaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Atherosclerosis was estimated with arteriographies. Lumen volume and edge roughness (vessel inner wall irregularity) of a 20 cm segment of the femoral artery were estimated by computer. A visual atherosclerosis score of the abdominal aorta to the popliteal arteries was made on both sides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with peripheral arterial disease had significantly more advanced disease according to all three angiographic variables than those without symptoms of peripheral vascular disease. Both men and women with coronary artery disease had significantly lower femoral lumen volume and higher roughness values than patients without. Men with previous myocardial infarction had significantly higher mean visual scores of atherosclerosis than those without, while lumen volume and roughness did not differ in either sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femoral atherosclerosis is an expression of a generalized disease, associated with clinical symptoms of coronary artery disease. Femoral atherosclerosis is often accompanied by atherosclerosis also in the coronary arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergstrand
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erikson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holme
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaijser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassvik
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mölgaard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stenport
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index