Peripheral artery disease (PAD) - overview

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease, is a chronic peripheral manifestation of atherosclerosis, which may affect the lower limbs and cerebral or renal vessels, causing a reduction of blood flow in the arteries of the trunk, arms, and legs.

People with PVD are at increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarctions, renal failure, intestinal angina, and lower leg ulcers or limb loss. The risk of peripheral vascular disease increases with age, and by age 70, as many as 20 percent of the population may be affected by this condition.

In peripheral vascular disease, fatty deposits build up in the inner linings of artery walls. These deposits cause blockages and restrict blood flow, mainly in arteries leading to the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs, and feet. In its early stages, symptoms include cramping or fatigue in the legs and buttocks during activity. Such cramping subsides by standing still. This is called intermittent claudication.

Review Date:1/1/2025
Reviewed By:Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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