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(Circulation. 1959;19:499.)
© 1959 American Heart Association, Inc.

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The Aortic Arch Syndrome (Pulseless Disease)

A Report of Ten Cases With Three Autopsies

W. M. THURLBECK M.B., CH.B.¹ J. H. CURRENS M.D.¹

¹ From the Medical Service (Cardiac Laboratory) and the James Homer Wright Pathology Laboratory of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Ten patients are presented in whom absent arterial pulsations were noted in 1 or both arms. Six patients also had absent carotid arterial pulsations on 1 or both sides.

The blood pressure was determined satisfactorily by a machine devised to record the Korotkov vibrations. This indicates feeble arterial pulsation in spite of inability to palpate them clinically.

Three autopsied cases showed severe atherosclerosis with superimposed thrombosis.

Long-term anticoagulation used in 2 patients for as long as 3 years seemed to result in some clinical improvement.