Vaskulárna medicína 3/2010

Claudicatio intermittens – an important marker of systemic atherosclerosis

Claudicatio intermittens is the major symptom of peripheral arterial disease of extremities. At the same time it is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. In spite of the fact that the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease of extremities requires only simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive diagnostic methods, the disease is still underdiagnosed and often goes untreated. The lower the ankle-brachial pressure index, the greater the risk of serious vascular events (e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke). Proper treatment prevents the progression of peripheral arterial disease of extremities as well as reduces other complications of systemic atherosclerosis, including cardiovascular death. Diagnosis and treatment of intermittent claudicatio is discussed in this article.

Keywords: claudicatio intermittens, diagnosis, treatment