Lower-limb complications
A minority of patients with intermittent claudication suffer from worsening leg symptoms (rest pain, ischaemic ulceration or gangrene). Estimates of the proportion of patients with intermittent claudication needing intervention, such…

The prevalence of diabetes in intermittent claudication is up to 20%, with some cases of diabetes previously undiagnosed (therefore, consider screening for diabetes).

Intermittent claudication is about twice as common in patients…

Questions that need to be answered before the ankle–brachial pressure index (ABPI) can be recommended for population screening

Answer is yes or probably yes:

1. Is ABPI a…

We prospectively evaluated the relationship between dietary fiber and peripheral arterial disease risk (PAD) among 46,032 men, aged 40 to 75 y, in 1986. Subjects answered a…

Since the practising of evidence-based medicine is deemed increasingly important, there is concern that current knowledge on the prevention of cardiovascular events may only benefit a minority of PAD patients. This notion is…

Individuals with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have a significantly elevated risk of developing major cardiovascular complications, but, until recently, the atherosclerotic manifestation of PAD has…

Peripheral arterial disease is a prevalent manifestation of atherosclerosis that is associated with significant risk of morbidity and mortality and also a marked reduction in ambulatory capacity and quality of life. Unfortunately, PAD…

The initial management of patients with critical leg ischemia involves pain relief including narcotics. Patients with more severe disease including ischemic ulceration or gangrene also need wound care to control…

Claudication
In patients with claudication, the natural history of the limb disease is relatively benign in that the risk of progression to critical limb ischemia and limb loss is quite small. Therefore,…

The primary initial goals of medical therapy in patients with PAD are to treat the systemic atherosclerosis by risk modification and antiplatelet drugs in an attempt to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.…

In addition to risk factor modification, other therapies have been targeted to slow the progression of peripheral atherosclerosis, as well as to decrease the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The…

The underlying disease process in PAD is the result of atherosclerosis in the arterial circulation of the lower extremity, caused by similar pathogenic mechanisms as for coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis. Arterial occlusive disease…

The risk factors for PAD are those that are expected for any patient population with atherosclerosis. The most potent risk factors for PAD are age, diabetes mellitus, and cigarette smoking.…