Segmental manifestation of peripheral atherosclerosis and its association to risk factors

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. Patients and 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 fetal cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein a, fibrinogen, uric acid, homocystein, 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. Conclusion: 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.