Symptomatic and Systemic Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease Using Novel Imaging
The goal of this observational study is to characterise the relationships between inflammation, microcalcification and thrombus activity in atherosclerotic plaques in peripheral and systemic vascular territories in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
• Male or female aged \> 18 years
• Symptomatic atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease;
‣ Intermittent claudication; with ankle/arm blood pressure ratio \<0.90 or artery stenosis \>50% in addition to at least one of the following;
• \>1 vascular bed affected by atherosclerosis
∙ Diabetes
∙ Heart failure
∙ Chronic kidney disease (eGFR \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2)
⁃ Rest pain or necrosis of limb or gangrene of limb
⁃ Revascularization defined as limb bypass surgery or endovascular revascularization procedures (irrespective of the specific device used), including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent of iliac or infra-inguinal arteries or extra-anatomical bypass surgery
⁃ Leg or foot amputation for arterial vascular indications
• Ability to give written or verbal informed consent