title: Long-term follow-up of patients with early atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with premature peripheral vascular disease may respond differently than their older counterparts. To determine the impact of early onset of atherosclerosis on outcome, we decided to compare a group of these patients with a group of patients with typical onset of atherosclerosis with regard to early complications, indications for intervention, site of disease at initial presentation (aortoiliac, infrainguinal, or cerebrovascular), and long-term outcomes (secondary revascularization, amputation, and death).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients younger than 50 years old requiring operative intervention between 1987 and 1992 were retrospectively compared with a group of patients greater than 60 years old, randomly selected from patients who underwent operation during the same time period. Patients were evaluated and compared for indications, risk factors, and early and late outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with early onset atherosclerosis at the aortoiliac or infrainguinal level had a higher late amputation rate (17% versus 3.9%, p = 0.02) and poorer overall outcome than their older cohorts. Patients with cerebrovascular disease in both cohorts had similarly good prognoses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortoiliac or infrainguinal disease diagnosed in patients less than 50 years of age portends a poorer outcome than does similar disease in an older patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peer
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Curl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Upson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ricotta
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000098:blood supply; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015993:Life Tables; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D015424:Reperfusion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome