Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Arterial Insufficiency of the Lower Extremities: A Critical Review

Vasoactive enzymes and blood flow responses to passive and active exercise in peripheral arterial disease

“…All participants were screened for inclusion. PAD patients were included if they had: 1) diagnosis of PAD with a medical record of stenosis and occlusion locations, 2) clinically stable (> 6 months) intermittent claudication [23], and 3) an ankle-to-brachial systolic blood pressure index (ABI) < 0.90 in the study leg [24]. Patients were excluded if they had: 1) ABI > 0.9, 2) unstable or poorly controlled conditions, such as unstable angina or poorly-managed diabetes, and 3) communicable diseases.…”

Effect of postmenopausal hormone replacement on atherosclerosis in femoral arteries

“…Potential bias in epidemiological studies would exaggerate the benefit of HRT [29]. Alternatively, since ABI compares systolic blood pressure in the tibial artery and in the brachial artery, it may be influenced by several mechanisms as there is proximal atherosclerotic lumen narrowing, perfusion through collateral arteries, and stiffening of the artery that must be compressed by the blood pressure cuff [11]. HRT may influence some of these processes by vasodilation, by improved endothelial function or by reduced arterial stiffness [30][31][32].…”

“…PAD is frequent in postmenopausal women, increasing with age [8,10]. It causes pain [8,11] and it indicates a substantially increased cardiovascular mortality [12]. Involvement of proximal (e.g.…”

The significance of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease

“…26 At 5 years, the majority of those with intermittent claudication had stable claudication (73%), 16% had progression of their intermittent claudication, and only 7% required leg bypass surgery, with an additional 4% undergoing an amputation. 26 However, the 5-year mortality is 30% and the incidence of nonfatal events (myocardial infarctions or strokes) was 20%. 26 At 1-year follow-up, 20% of patients with critical limb ischemia were dead, 35% had undergone an amputation, and 45% were alive without an amputation.…”

“…26 However, the 5-year mortality is 30% and the incidence of nonfatal events (myocardial infarctions or strokes) was 20%. 26 At 1-year follow-up, 20% of patients with critical limb ischemia were dead, 35% had undergone an amputation, and 45% were alive without an amputation. 3 The mortality for asymptomatic PAD is similar to that of mild to moderately symptomatic subjects.…”