PROSPECTIVE ULTRASOUND STUDY OF ABDOMINAL -AORTA DIAMETER IN PATIENTSWITH LOWER-LIMB OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL-DISEASE - 1413 PATIENTS WITH NO PRIOR SURGERY ON THE AORTIC BIFURCATION

The morphology and diameter of the subrenal abdominal aorta were studi ed using ultrasonography in 1413 patients attending a spa in Royat, Fr ance. All study patients had lower limb occlusive arterial disease and a negative history for surgery on the aortic bifurcation. The prevale nce and incidence of aortic diameter abnormalities in were determined according to gender, age, presence of atheromatous lesions in other ar teries, and presence of known cardiovascular risk factors. In this stu dy population, there was no significant association between aneurysmal dilation of the abdominal aorta and the presence of cardiovascular ri sk factors, in particular hypertension.