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Aims: The purpose of this study was comparing flow volume rates, velocities and diameters of lower extremity arteries and veins of smokers and non-smokers with peripheral arterial disease.

Patients and methods: The study consisted of 58 patients, 26 smokers and 32 non-smokers, who had no smoked for at least 5 years prior to the investigation. Colour Duplex Ultrasonography measurements of the common femoral artery, common femoral vein, popliteal artery, popliteal vein, anterior tibial artery, anterior tibial vein, posterior tibial artery and posterior tibial vein were obtained in the supine position. Differences in the diameters, blood flow velocities, and flow volume rates of the vessels were compared according to the sex, age and Colour Duplex Ultrasonography measurements of the patients.

Results: The diameters of the common femoral artery, popliteal vein and posterior tibial artery were statistically significantly reduced in smokers. The flow volume rate of the popliteal artery showed a significant correlation with that of crural vessels in non-smokers but not in smokers.

Conclusions: The absence of a statistically significant correlation between the measurements of the popliteal artery and crural vessels in smokers shows that cigarette smoking reduces the diameters and flow volumes of crural vessels, potentially giving rise to impaired tissue perfusion.