Carotid and lower extremity arterial disease in hypertensions.

Atherosclerotic changes of carotid and lower extremity arteries were studied in the selected industrial population represented by 58 men with arterial hypertension. Affection of peripheral arterial system was detected by means of non-invasive ultrasound methods. Stenoses of carotid arteries were recorded in 19% of cases (11 of 58), stenoses of lower extremity arteries in 7% (4 of 58). Hypertonic individuals did not show neurological symptomatology, including one patients with total occlusion of the arteria carotis interna. One man underwent the attack of cerebrovascular ischemia. Stenoses of lower extremity arteries were also in the subclinical stage and without intermittent claudications. A high number of risk factors of atherosclerosis was found in the series: obesity in 90%, smoking 57%, hypercholesterolemia in 47%. Peripheral arterial changes were associated with combined risk factors (two and more). This indicates their involvement in the origin and development of atherosclerotic lesions.