Peripheral Vascular Disease
(PVD, Peripheral Artery Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, PAD)
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD and Daniel
Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI
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Searches Related To Atherosclerosis
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What is peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to diseases of
the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain.
While there are many causes of peripheral vascular disease, doctors commonly use
the term peripheral vascular disease to refer to peripheral artery disease (peripheral
arterial disease, PAD), a condition that
develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become
completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis.
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a gradual process whereby hard
cholesterol substances
(plaques) are deposited in the walls of the arteries.
Cholesterol plaques cause
hardening of the artery walls and narrowing of the inner channel (lumen) of the artery.
The atherosclerosis process begins early in life (as early as teens in some
people). When atherosclerosis is mild and the arteries are not substantially
narrowed, atherosclerosis causes no symptoms. Therefore many adults typically
are unaware that their arteries are gradually accumulating cholesterol plaques.
But when atherosclerosis becomes advanced with aging, it can cause critical
narrowing of the arteries resulting in tissue ischemia (lack of blood and
oxygen).
Arteries that are narrowed by advanced atherosclerosis can cause diseases in
different organs. For example, advanced atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
(arteries that supply heart muscles) can lead to
angina and
heart attacks.
Advanced atherosclerosis of the carotid and cerebral arteries
(arteries that supply blood to the brain) can lead to
strokes and
transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs). Advanced atherosclerosis in the lower extremities can lead to
pain while walking
or exercising (claudication),
deficient wound healing, and/or leg ulcers.
Picture of
Carotid Artery Disease and Plaque Buildup
Picture of Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) - Buildup of Cholesterol Plaque and Blood Clot
Atherosclerosis is often generalized, meaning it affects arteries throughout
the body. Therefore, patients with heart attacks are also more likely to develop
strokes and peripheral vascular disease, and vice versa.
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