Peripheral Artery Disease

Description

What is peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to the obstruction of large arteries outside the coronary, aortic arch vasculature, or brain.

Causes and Risk Factors

What are the causes and risk factors of peripheral artery disease?

Also called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), this serious circulation problem can result from atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes leading to stenosis, an embolism, or thrombus formation. Often PVD is a term used to refer to atherosclerotic blockages found in the lower extremity. The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in the general population is 12–14%, affecting up to 20% of those over 70[1]; 70%–80% of affected individuals are asymptomatic; only a minority ever require revascularization or amputation. Peripheral vascular disease affects 1 in 3 diabetics over the age of 50.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of peripheral artery disease?

PAD causes either acute or chronic ischemia (lack of blood supply) resulting in a dull, cramping pain in the legs, hips or buttocks when you exercise, that stops when you rest. This is a classic PAD symptom called claudication.

Diagnosis

How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed?

The most common test for PAD is the ankle brachial index (ABI), a painless exam that uses ultrasound images to measure blood pressure in the feet and arms.

Treatment

How is peripheral artery disease treated?

Doctors may prescribe life-style changes, medications, and procedures like angioplasty and stenting to open blocked vessels. Treatment How is peripheral artery disease treated? Doctors may prescribe life-style changes, medications, and procedures like angioplasty and stenting to open blocked vessels.