Prognosis of Arteriosclerosis Obliterans Associated with Diabetes

In arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), diabetic patients were about 5-years younger in average than non-diabetic patients and showed severe ischemic change of the lower extremities. In many cases of ASO with diabetes, arteriography of the lower extremities and pulse wave form of the toes revealed poor peripheral arterial circulation and amputation of the lower extremities was the final outcome. The diabetic patients who showed high glucohemoglobin (GHb) value on hematochemistry test had more severe ischemic symptom, therefore hyperglycemia state seemed to promote arteriosclerosis. However, no correlation was found between the method of diabetic treatment and frequency of amputation, and between period of diabetes and the amputation ratio. These results suggest that on treatment of ASO with diabetes it is best to control diabetes first and secondly perform arterial reconstruction aggressively.