Peripheral Artery Disease Overview

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Learn About Peripheral Artery Disease

What is the definition of Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease is a condition in which the blood flow to the limbs is reduced due to a narrowing or blockage of the arteries. This narrowing of the arteries is usually caused by fatty buildup (plaque) called atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease more commonly affects the legs but may also occur in the arms.
What are the symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease may not have any symptoms or only mild symptoms. The most common symptoms of peripheral artery disease are mild-to-severe leg pain or cramping (claudication). Claudication is most often felt in the calf upon walking or climbing stairs and stops when at rest. Other symptoms of peripheral artery disease include cramping in one or both hips; leg numbness or weakness; cold lower legs and feet; sores or ulcerations on legs, feet, or toes that won’t heal; a bluish or grayish limb skin color; leg muscle wasting; slow hair growth or hair loss on legs; slow toenail growth; weak or absent pulse in legs or feet; pain when using arms such as when writing or doing manual work; and erectile dysfunction in men. Severe peripheral artery disease may also cause pain at rest and interrupt sleep.
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What are the current treatments for Peripheral Artery Disease?
Early peripheral artery disease can often be treated with exercise, a healthy diet, and quitting smoking. Treatment for more advanced peripheral artery disease is focused on managing pain and stopping atherosclerosis to prevent blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Treatments for peripheral artery disease include regular exercise and medications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins); blood pressure-lowering drugs; blood sugar-lowering drugs; anticoagulant drugs to prevent blood clots, such as aspirin and Plavix; and drugs that increase blood flow to the limbs, such as cilostazol or pentoxifylline. Treatments for peripheral artery disease that is causing claudication include angioplasty, in which a catheter is inserted with a stent to reopen an artery and increase blood flow; and bypass surgery, in which an artery taken from another area of the body, or a synthetic vessel, is grafted around a blocked artery. Thrombolytic therapy, in which a clot-dissolving drug is injected into a blocked artery, may also be used to treat peripheral artery disease that has caused blood clots.
Who are the top Peripheral Artery Disease Local Doctors?
Manesh R. Patel
Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Manesh R. Patel
Cardiology
Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Manesh R. Patel
Cardiology

Duke Cardiology Arringdon

5601 Arringdon Park Dr, 
Morrisville, NC 
919-997-3100
Languages Spoken:
English, Gujarati 
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Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Manesh Patel is a Cardiologist in Morrisville, North Carolina. Dr. Patel is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease. His top areas of expertise are Peripheral Artery Disease, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Angioplasty. Dr. Patel is currently accepting new patients.

Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Mehdi H. Shishehbor
Cardiology | Interventional Cardiology
Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Mehdi H. Shishehbor
Cardiology | Interventional Cardiology

University Hospitals Medical Group Inc

11100 Euclid Ave, 
Cleveland, OH 
216-844-1000
Languages Spoken:
English
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Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Mehdi Shishehbor is a Cardiologist and an Interventional Cardiologist in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Shishehbor is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease. His top areas of expertise are Peripheral Artery Disease, Atherosclerosis, Arterial Insufficiency, Angioplasty, and Atherectomy. Dr. Shishehbor is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Herbert D. Aronow
Interventional Cardiology | Cardiology
Elite in Peripheral Artery Disease
Dr. Herbert D. Aronow
Interventional Cardiology | Cardiology

Henry Ford Health System

2799 W Grand Blvd, 
Detroit, MI 
313-916-2600
Languages Spoken:
English
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Accepting New Patients

Herbert Aronow is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Aronow is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease. His top areas of expertise are Peripheral Artery Disease, Atherosclerosis, Heart Attack, Stent Placement, and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Dr. Aronow is currently accepting new patients.

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What are the latest Peripheral Artery Disease Clinical Trials?
The THOR IDE Study
The THOR IDE Study
Enrollment Status: Recruiting
Publish Date: December 17, 2025
Intervention Type: Device
Study Phase: Not Applicable

Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to test the Thor system in adult (≥ 18 year old) patients with de novo (new, never treated) calcified lesions in infrainguinal (leg) arteries (peripheral artery disease or PAD). The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * Is the Thor system safe in treating these lesions * Does the Thor system work to treat these lesions Participants will: * Receive treatment...

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Assessment of Dysfunction in Left Cardiac Chambers With Strain-analyses in Patients With Lower Extremity Arterial Disease
Assessment of Dysfunction in Left Cardiac Chambers With Strain-analyses in Patients With Lower Extremity Arterial Disease
Enrollment Status: Recruiting
Publish Date: December 16, 2025

Summary: Single centre observational study to assess lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients' cardiac dysfunction with strain analyses and to assess connections between cardiac dysfunction, metabolomic changes and target organ damage in LEAD.

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