[Observations on the disease course of arterial circulatory disorders in the lower extremities under conservative therapy].

For estimation of the conservative treatment of peripheral arterial disturbances of the blood supply by means of parasympathicomimetics and sympathicolytics as well as body exercises patients in stage I, II and IV according to Fontaine were after-examined after 2-5 years. In the majority of cases a progessing of the arterial obstructions and an extension to proximal vascular regions could be established. Improvements in stage I suggest thinking of a false diagnosis. In stage IV especially with simultaneously existing diabetes mellitus the obliteration process extends to other vascular regions and thus frequently develop complications with exitus letalis.