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Background Both carotid and lower limb atherosclerosis are associated with increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks. However, it is still unclear whether the concomitant presence of carotid and lower extremity atherosclerosis further increases the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks. Therefore, our aim is to investigate whether the coexistence of carotid and lower extremity atherosclerosis was associated with higher cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in 2830 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on carotid and lower limb Doppler ultrasound results, the patients were divided into three groups including 711 subjects without atherosclerosis, 999 subjects with either carotid or lower limb atherosclerosis, and 1120 subjects with both carotid and lower limb atherosclerosis. And we compared the clinical characteristics and prevalence of both cardio-cerebrovascular events (CCBVEs) and self-reported cardio- cerebrovascular diseases (CCBVDs) among the three groups. Results After adjusting for age, sex, and duration of diabetes, there were significant increases in the prevalence of both CCBVEs (3.8 vs. 11.8 vs. 26.4 %, p

Objectives:To study whether relative changes in the concentration of different proteins of the subcutaneous interstitial tissue fluid in patients with postreconstructive leg oedema could give information on the integrity of the capillary wall following vascular reconstruction.Materials:Sixteen patients developed ipsilateral leg oedema following femoropopliteal (n = 14) or femorotibial (n = 2) bypass surgery for intermittent claudication (n = 10) or critical lower limb ischaemia (n = 6) caused by obliterating atherosclerosis.Methods:The leg volume increase was measured according to the formula of a truncated cone. The blister suction method was used for sampling of subcutaneous interstitial tissue fluid. The concentration of albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulin G and α2-macroglobulin of serum and blister fluid was measured with nephelometry.Results:Seven days postoperatively the mean leg volume increase was 32% (19.8%) in the operated leg compared to the contralateral side (p

Objective: To determine differences in the levels of the cardiovascular risk factors, cigarette smoking, serum lipids and blood pressure, between three groups of patients with different sites of lower limb atherosclerosis. Design: Cross-sectional survey of a consecutive series of patients with symptoms of either intermittent claudication or rest pain. Methods and materials: One hundred and ninety-two men and women who had undergone angiography were classified using the Bollinger scoring system into groups with predominantly aortoiliac, femoropopliteal or dual-site disease. History of cigarette smoking, serum cotinine, serum thiocyanate, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were estimated. Systolic and diastolic pressures were measured and the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) was calculated. Results: Eighty-five patients were classified as having femoropopliteal disease, 34 aortoiliac disease and 73 dual-site disease. After adjusting for age, sex and severity of disease, aortoiliac patients were significantly younger (p ≤ 0.001), more likely to be female and current smokers, and had the highest levels of diastolic blood pressure. Life time cigarette consumption (pack-years) and total cholesterol concentrations were highest in femoropopliteal disease. Patients with dualsite disease were more likely to have had a myocardial infarction and angina pectoris (p ≤ 0.05). Systolic blood pressure was also highest in this group. Conclusion: Different levels of cardiovascular risk factors may predispose individuals to atherosclerosis at different sites in the lower limb. Large population studies would be required to delineate the risks more precisely.