Abstract
The collateral circulation of the limbs was investigated by injection of radioiodinated macroaggregated serum albumin (131I-MAA) into the brachial and femoral arteries of 31 patients with occlusive vascular diseases. The method was found useful as a subsidiary means in evaluating the peripheral circulation in these diseases. In 80% of cases of sympathectomy, arteriovenous shunts were increased by 25% of the control. Higher leakage of 131I-MAA of approximately 90% over the control was observed in a congenital arteriovenous fistula of the leg, which was confirmed by scintiscanning. Linear scanning along the body axis displayed accumulation of 131I-MAA in the lung of control and patients with vascular diseases, suggesting that 131I-MAA had passed through the arteriovenous shunts. Abnormally high radioactivity was observed occasionally at the toes and finger tips with chronic ulcers.
