title: Peripheral vascular disease. Diagnosing and treating the 3 most common peripheral vasculopathies.
abstract: A common sign of generalized atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) occurs as a result of arterial narrowing or obstruction that restricts blood flow to distal tissues. Prevalence of PVD ranges from 3% in patients age > 55, to 11% in patients age > 65, to 20% in those age 75 and older. Cerebrovascular/carotid disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease are the most common peripheral vasculopathies seen by primary care physicians. All require aggressive medical management to prevent potentially serious complications and may require referral to vascular surgeons for evaluation. Prevention remains the best therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dillavou
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D018579:Patient Selection; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents