Via practica 1/2019

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremity in general practitioner practice

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremity is often manifestation of polyvascular disease with very high cardio-vascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. PAD is underestimated and undertreated in clinical practice. Asymptomatic form of PAD is common in diabetic, elderly and immobile population of patients. Measurement of ankle-brachial pressure index is basic noninvasive method for estimation of PAD as well as stratification of CV risk in population. The best control of atherosclerotic risk factors and life-style modification with exercise therapy in intermittent claudication can stabilize the disease in majority of patients. In patients with critical limb ischemia should be always multidiscpilinary vascular approach in hospital with possibility of revascularisation therapy.

Keywords: peripheral arterial disease of lower extremity, cardio-vascular risk, diagnosis, ABI, therapy