Skin microcirculation state in different degrees of arterial insufficiency in patients with intermittent claudication

Background. High prevalence and a poor prognosis of lower-extremity atherosclerotic arterial disease determine intermittent claudication (IC) as a pressing problem. It is known that about 40% of patients with IC can rely only on drug therapy carried out at the microcirculation (MC) level. Thus, the aim of the study is to reveal functional features of MC shifts in patients with IC of different degrees of arterial insufficiency. Material and Methods. The study included 72 male patients with angiographically confirmed obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, IC stage IIb, ankle-brachial index (ABI).0.85 and 15 healthy men (mean age 45.0±14.2 years). The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 with ABI.0.55, (n=49) and group 2 with ABI