title: Segmental manifestation of peripheral atherosclerosis and its association to risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prove whether the aortoiliac, femoropopliteal or crural segments of the peripheral arteries might have a different sensitivity to a risk profile we did a statistical analysis of segmental peripheral atherosclerosis and risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 132 patients (mean age 61 +/- 13 years) with peripheral arterial occlusions the arterial segments with occlusion or stenosis were angiographically documented: 17 had occluded or stenosed aortoiliac, 45 femoropopliteal and 25 crural arteries and 45 patients had multiple manifestations. Analysis of total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein a, fibrinogen, uric acid, homocysteine, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HBA1, IgG- and IgM-antibodies versus Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex-virus, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori were done and nicotine abuse, arterial hypertension and obesity were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age of the patients had the strongest correlation with isolated segmental manifestation (p < 0.0001). Patients with isolated aortoiliac manifestation were younger than patients without this manifestation (54 +/- 9 years versus 62 +/- 13 years). Patients with isolated femoropopliteal manifestation were older than patients without this manifestation (66 +/- 11 years versus 58 +/- 13 years). None of the investigated risk factors showed a correlation with these age related differences. Independent from the age related differences for the nicotine abuse a p-value of 0.08 was estimated, but in smokers a diffuse manifestation was most frequent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are age dependent differences of the prevalence of isolated aortoiliac or femoropopliteal atherosclerotic occlusions or stenosis. An association of these differences to a specific risk profile was not found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, University of Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Renzing-Köhler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santosa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rudofsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects