Peripheral artery disease (
PAD), also known as
peripheral vascular disease (
PVD),
peripheral artery occlusive disease, and
peripheral obliterative arteriopathy, is a narrowing of the
arteries other than those that supply the
heart or the
brain. When narrowing occurs in the heart it is called
coronary artery disease while in the brain it is called
cerebrovascular disease. Peripheral artery disease most commonly affects the
legs, but other arteries may also be involved. The classic symptom is leg pain when walking which resolves with rest, known as
intermittent claudication. Other symptoms including
skin ulcers,
bluish skin, cold skin, or poor nail and hair growth may occur in the affected leg. Complications may include an infection or
tissue death which may require
amputation;
coronary artery disease, or
stroke. Up to 50% of cases of PAD are
without symptoms.