title: Persistent sciatic artery: an uncommon cause of intermittent claudication.
abstract: Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rarely seen variation of the lower limb vessels. Anatomically the PSA is the continuation of internal iliac arteries. It follows the sciatic nerve from the sciatic foramen to the level of the knee. We report our experience with conservative therapy in a patient with complete occlusion of a PSA. A 54-year-old man with typical symptoms of intermittent claudication on the left limb was referred to our Department. After clinical examination Doppler and duplex sonography were performed. Angiography showed bilateral PSA. On the left side the PSA was occluded. The patient received 20 intravenous courses of prostaglandin E1 for 4 weeks, followed by oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumon for life (INR: 2.5-3.5). After 3 years therapy he does not show any typical symptoms of intermittent claudication or limb ischemia. This case shows that conservative therapy may be effective. However, it has to be emphasised that this approach requires frequent clinical and duplex sonography follow-up every 3 to 6 months with oral anticoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kritsch
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hutter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katzenschlager
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000792:Angiography; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010644:Phenprocoumon / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000527:Alprostadil; D010644:Phenprocoumon