Library · Disease
Peripheral artery disease
Make it clearer
Peripheral artery disease is one of the forms of atherosclerosis, the chronic disease in which plaque builds up inside the wall of the arteries. Here the arteries affected are the peripheral ones, that is, the ones far from the heart, and what the disease does is narrow them little by little until less blood reaches the legs.
The process has two stages. At first the artery compensates: it widens so that the plaque fits and flow stays the same. But there comes a point when it can no longer widen, and then the plaque begins to close off the lumen, which is the inner space the blood passes through.
When that happens, the blood looks for detours: it goes through collateral arteries, smaller branches that run alongside the main one. They help, but they never carry as much blood. That is why the hallmark symptom appears, intermittent claudication: pain or cramping in the leg muscles that comes on when walking.
In brief
Peripheral artery disease is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis that progressively narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the legs.
Lipid-rich plaque builds up inside the wall; at first the artery expands to preserve flow, and later it cannot, so the lumen narrows.
Blood detours into smaller collateral arteries, which never carry as much; that restriction produces the hallmark symptom, intermittent claudication: pain or cramping when walking.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingPeripheral Arterial Disease, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated