Long-term follow-up of patients with early atherosclerosis.

Patients with premature peripheral vascular disease may respond differently than their older counterparts. To determine the impact of early onset of atherosclerosis on outcome, we decided to compare a group of these patients with a group of patients with typical onset of atherosclerosis with regard to early complications, indications for intervention, site of disease at initial presentation (aortoiliac, infrainguinal, or cerebrovascular), and long-term outcomes (secondary revascularization, amputation, and death).