Weiner S D, Reis E D, Kerstein M D
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Geriatrics. 2001 Apr;56(4):20-2, 25-6, 29-30.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death and disability in patients age 50 and older. PAD progresses gradually and silently over many years, occluding the lumen of arteries that supply blood to the extremities. Symptoms of peripheral arterial insufficiency include intermittent claudication, rest pain, and impotence. Nonoperative management--including the control of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking--is the most effective method to lower the risk of morbidity from PAD. Diagnostic technologies such as color duplex imaging, MRI, and MRA complement the clinical assessment of PAD and provide a stronger foundation for treatment decisions in the primary care setting.
外周动脉疾病（PAD）由动脉粥样硬化引起，动脉粥样硬化是50岁及以上患者死亡和残疾的主要原因。PAD会在多年间逐渐且悄无声息地发展，阻塞为四肢供血的动脉管腔。外周动脉供血不足的症状包括间歇性跛行、静息痛和阳痿。非手术治疗——包括控制高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症和吸烟等风险因素——是降低PAD发病风险的最有效方法。彩色双功超声成像、MRI和MRA等诊断技术辅助了PAD的临床评估，并为初级保健环境中的治疗决策提供了更有力的依据。
