FUNCTIONAL-EVALUATION OF INTERMITTENT CLA UDICATION

Despite new technologies and therapeutical developments in angiology, the functional evaluation of intermittent claudication still remains u nsatisfying. The Fontaine-Classification from 1954, which is currently used as stage IIa and IIb, is not generally accepted. In the clinical routine, the estimate taken for decision strategy, even for the inter ventional and surgical procedures, is often that claimed by the patien t in his case history. Due to lack of standardization the results of t herapeutical studies are not comparable. Recommendations for treadmill exercise testing are confusing. Globally, both the constant-load-test at 3 km/h and 12% grade and the graded-exercise-test (3,2 km/h with a n increase in grade of 3,5% every 3 minutes) show similar results. How ever in patients with absolute claudication distance between 50-150 m, the constant-load-test is superior. The problem in measurement of the treadmill walking distance could probably be solved by the quantifica tion of exercise capability and evaluation of physical capacity in pat ients with intermittent claudication in the same manner as usual in ca rdiology and sports medicine.