Digital systolic pressures in the lower limb in arterial disease.

were decreased in patients with arteriosclerosis and thromboangiitis obliterans, or Raynaud's phenomena. Mean digital pressures correlated well with clinical and angiographic findings. In arteriosclerosis obliterans digital pressures in the limbs with claudication averaged 43% of the brachial pressure, and in patients with rest pain or skin lesions, or both, 21%. The ankle-to-toe pressure difference was increased in the majority of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans and in some diabetics with arteriosclerosis obliterans. The results indicate that digital pressure expressed as percentage of brachial pressure is a good index of the severity of the overall occlusive process, whereas the ankle-to-toe pressure difference may provide a useful index of the disease in the small distal arteries.