Simultaneous Venous Occlusion Plethysmography and XE¹³³ Clearance in Patients with Arteriosclerosis of the Lower Extremities An Attempt to Evaluate the Blood Flow in Skin and Muscle

Abstract

Simultaneous measurements with venous occlusion plethysmography and Xe¹³³ muscle clearance were carried out in 23 patients with arteriosclerosis of the lower extremities. A total of 45 extremities were measured (16 with arteriosclerosis, 20 with occlusion of the femoral artery and 9 with occlusion of the iliac artery). Measurements were made twice on each leg, first in the hyperaemic period after ischaemia and then after ischaemia + exercise. In the case of the flow results determined by plethysmography, an attempt was made to estimate the fractions which can be ascribed to skin and muscle, respectively.

Based on a comparison with a previously published material of normal young subjects, the following conclusions could be drawn: Occlusion of the iliac artery results in the greatest restriction in circulation in the lower extremities, both with respect to skin and to musculature. Occlusion of the femoral artery gives a somewhat lesser reduction in circulation, while arteriosclerosis without occlusion of the great vessels only reduces the circulation to a limited extent. Furthermore, it could be concluded that in patients with arteriosclerosis, the distribution space for Xe¹³³ is changed so that the technique of Xe¹³³ clearance cannot be employed as a reliable quantitative measure in diagnosis, but must be designated as semi-quantitative. This does not affect the value of the method for the solution of special physiological problems.