peripheral artery disease

artery disease characterized by build up of plaque in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs, and limbs

Key facts

Other names: Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), peripheral artery occlusive disease, peripheral obliterative arteriopathy
Specialty: Interventional radiology , vascular surgery
Symptoms: Leg pain when walking that resolves with rest , skin ulcers , bluish skin , cold skin, loss of hair, unusually smooth or shiny skin
Complications: Infection, amputation
Causes: Atherosclerosis , artery spasm
Risk factors: Cigarette smoking , diabetes , high blood pressure , high blood cholesterol .
Diagnostic method: Ankle-brachial index < 0.90, duplex ultrasonography , angiography
Treatment: Stopping smoking , supervised exercise therapy , surgery
Medication: Statins , ACE inhibitors , cilostazol
Frequency: 155 million (2015)
Deaths: 52,500 (2015)

Article

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a vascular disorder that causes abnormal narrowing of arteries other than those that supply the heart or brain. PAD can happen in any blood vessel, but it is more common in the legs than the arms.

When narrowing occurs in the heart, it is called coronary artery disease (CAD), and in the brain, it is called cerebrovascular disease. Peripheral artery disease most commonly affects the legs, but other arteries may also be involved, such as those of the arms, neck, or kidneys.