Peripheral arterial stenosis

What it means

Narrowing of peripheral arteries with reduction of blood flow to the limbs. This feature may be quantified as an ankle-brachial index of less than 0.9, and may be manifested clinically as claudication.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI; the ratio of systolic blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm), is a measure of occlusion of peripheral arteries in the leg. Peripheral arterial stenosis may be observed with atherosclerosis and with increased intima media thickness as seen in diseases such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum. The most common cause of peripheral arterial stenosis in patients over 40 years of age is atherosclerosis. Cerebral and coronary arteries are by definition not included in peripheral artery disease.

Rare diseases that can present with this6

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Arterial disease of legs · Occlusive arterial disease · Occlusive vascular disease · Peripheral artery disease · Peripheral artery occlusive disease · Peripheral vascular disease