Calf Blood Flow and Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure in Intermittent Claudication Monitored Over Five Years

Abstract

The response of calf blood flow and ankle blood pressure to 2 minutes of ischemic exercise were recorded every 6 months over a 5-year period in 9 patients with intermittent claudication who were treated conservatively on a regime including alpha tocopherol. No statistically significant change was noted in the pattern of the calf blood flow response over this period. Statistically significant ( P < 0.05) increases in resting and minimal postexercise ankle systolic pressures were partially attributable to a concomitant increase in central arterial pressure as indicated by brachial systolic pressure. Results from 18 patients over 1 year and from 14 patients over 2 years are consistent with these findings. The evidence presented suggests that the arterial disease process was stable over this period.