[Intermittent claudication--a major cardiovascular risk factor. Proposed guidelines for investigation and treatment].

Intermittent claudication is a common disorder, the diagnosis of which can usually be made on the basis of careful history taking and physical examination. Treatment should be focused on abstinence from smoking, increased daily walking distance, risk-factor modification, and aspirin prophylaxis. Laboratory studies including duplex ultrasonography should be limited to cases where uncertainty exists or to the preoperative work-up for invasive intervention. Intermittent claudication patients merit special attention as a category at high risk of cardiovascular disease, and in whom risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes need to be identified and treated.