Arterial claudication

Abstract

Arterial claudication is generally the revealing form of clinically symptomatic lower extremity artery disease. It is defined as a pain of limb muscles that occurs during exercise and is relieved within 10 min when exercise is lowered or stopped. Atherosclerosis is the first underlying cause of arterial intermittent claudication. As such, the occurrence of arterial claudication is a severe medical event sharing almost similar the long-term morbidity and mortality risk as other arterial events such as stroke or myocardial infarction. Comorbid (both vascular and nonvascular) affections must be actively searched. Surgery is generally indicated only when medical treatment and training have failed to improve symptoms. This paper shortly reviews the cause, presentation, diagnostic algorithm, and treatments of arterial claudication.

Keywords

• atherosclerosis
• diagnosis
• lower extremity arterial disease
• lower limb ischemia
• peripheral artery disease
• treatment