Study hypothesis: elevated Troponin T is a marker of increased mortality in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Troponin T and I are established risk markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Only recently, troponin I was found to be elevated in patients with acute critical limb ischaemia. In another study, troponin I was associated with a higher mortality in patients with chronic critical limb ischaemia followed over two years. In a longitudinal study design we intend to follow all patients that were treated for symptomatic PAOD (Fontaine stages II-IV) from 01/2007 to 12/2007 in our department of angiology. Main outcome parameters are death and the occurrence of major vascular events and revascularization procedures during follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease
• aged >/= 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• unstable angina or acute coronary syndrome < 14 days
• percutaneous coronary intervention < 14 days
• other interventions or disease associated with troponin T release (i.e., acute pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, heart valve replacement, acute heart failure, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, heart surgery, thoracic trauma, endocarditis, myocarditis

patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Fontaine stages II-IV)