Arteriosclerosis of the extremities

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Arterial bypass leg - series

Arteriosclerosis of the extremities

Peripheral vascular disease; PVD; Peripheral arterial disease; PAD; Arteriosclerosis obliterans

Often, symptoms affect one limb. If arteriosclerosis exists in both limbs, the intensity is usually different in each.

• Leg pain (intermittent claudication )
  • Occurs with exercise (such as walking)
  • Relieved with rest
• Numbness of the legs or feet at rest
• Cold legs or feet
• Muscle pain in the thighs, calves, or feet
• Loss of hair on the legs and/or feet
• Change of color of the legs
• Paleness or blueness ( cyanosis )
• Pulse, weak or absent in the limb
• Walking/gait abnormalities

An examination may show arterial bruits (whooshing sound heard with the stethoscope over the artery), decreased or absent pulse in the extremities, or decreased blood pressure in the affected limb.

Blood tests may show high cholesterol.

Peripheral artery disease may be revealed by:

• An abnormal ratio between the blood pressure of the ankle and arm (ankle/brachial index, or ABI)
• A Doppler ultrasound exam of an extremity
• Angiography of the arteries in the legs (arteriography)
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) of the extremity
• An MRI scan

Review Date: 05/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.