title: Peripheral arterial disease: diagnosis and management.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease is a common but underdiagnosed and undertreated disorder with substantial morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease and the risk factors for developing it are similar to those for atherosclerotic disease occurring at other sites. Peripheral arterial disease can be diagnosed accurately with simple, noninvasive, office-based tests that measure the severity of the disease and provide valuable prognostic information. Optimal medical therapy includes a supervised exercise program, tobacco cessation, and modification of treatable risk factors. Cilostazol can improve pain-free and peak walking distances in patients with intermittent claudication. As a general rule, patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication who do not respond to medical management or those with critical limb ischemia should be referred to a vascular specialist for consideration of revascularization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. cooper.leslie@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Faisel A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Leslie T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology