SKELETAL-MUSCLE CAPILLARIES IN INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 101  (9) , 500-503
Abstract
The ultrastructural dimensions and density of capillaries in 23 gastrocnemius or rectus femoris muscles in patients with intermittent claudication due to arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) were studied. Constant ultrastructural alterations that were not seen in control patients were thickening, replication and remnants of the capillary basement membrane (BM). Compared with the control patients, the percentual area of the BM was significantly larger (P < .01), the lumen was significantly smaller (P < .01) and the ratio of capillaries to muscle fiber was significantly higher (P < .01) in patients with ASO. The changes were probably due to ASO since they increased with growing severity of claudication.