Synonym: peripheral vascular disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when there is significant narrowing of arteries distal to the arch of the aorta, most often due to atherosclerosis. Symptoms vary from calf pain on exercise (intermittent claudication) to rest pain (critical limb ischaemia), skin ulceration and gangrene. Patients diagnosed as having PAD - including those who are asymptomatic - have an increased risk of mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke.1
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/history-examination/peripheral-arterial-disease-pro