Comparison of Various Vascular Beds in Man

Blood flow to the extremities and kidneys was measured simultaneously in normal subjects, hypertensive patients and patients with obliterative arterial disease of the lower extremities. The latter group showed diminished basal flow in the lower extremities, increased basal flow in the upper extremities, and a delayed and diminished response to reflex heating, compared with the normal and hypertensive subjects. In all three groups, the increase in extremity blood flow was regularly accompanied by a concomitant decrease in renal blood flow. No significant change in arterial pressure was observed.