Clinical peculiarities of atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries in patients with abdominal aortic calcification

Melnikov M.V., Zelinskiy V.A.

Chair of General Surgery of the North-West State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The authors analysed clinical peculiarities of atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries (hereinafter referred to as APA) in patients presenting with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).

In order to determine the incidence rate of AAC in the population of patients with APA we analysed medical records of a total of 1,800 patients. The study itself included a total of 193 patients with APA further subdivided into two groups: 108 patients with AAC (Study Group) and 85 patients without AAC. Beside general clinical examination all patients were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography, duplex scanning of the aorta and lower-limb arteries, extended lipidogram and coagulogram. AAC was verified by means of computed tomography.

It was determined that in one third of cases AAC was combined with abdominal aortic calcification, with APA on the background of AAC having certain peculiarities, i.e., high incidence of multisegmental lesions (68%) with predominant localization of the process in the aortoiliac and femoropopliteal segments (43%); frequent involvement of the terminal portion of the aorta and pelvic arteries. Patients with AAC also were noted to have a series of peculiarities in the indices of lipid metabolism, as well as signs of procoagulant syndrome and alterations of the structural and functional characteristics of the myocardium. It was stated that peculiarities of APA on the background of AAC should be taken into consideration while working out the program of diagnosis, treatment (including surgical), and rehabilitation of patients.

KEY WORDS: atherosclerosis, peripheral arteries, abdominal aortic calcification, dyslipidemia, procoagulant syndrome, cardiac complications.

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