Immunological status of patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the vessels of the lower limbs

In 116 patients with atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities in stages I-IV of the impairment in circulation and 35 healthy subjects, the immune status was studied. With aggravation of the disease, the number of leukocytes, B-cells, concentration of the IgM, IgG and circulating immune complexes, the number of immature lymphocytes and T-cells sensitizised to antigens of the arterial intima increase. At the same time, the total activity of the complement and phagocytic activity of neutrophilic granulocytes decrease, the relative number of neutrophilic granulocytes, which spontaneously generate a superoxide radical, increases. The likeness of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities to atherosclerosis of the heart vessels was noted.