Intermittent claudication

Intermittent claudication
Classification and external resources
Specialty cardiology, orthopedics[*]
ICD-10 I73.9
ICD-9-CM 440.21
MeSH D007383

Intermittent claudication (Latin: claudicatio intermittens) is a symptom that describes muscle pain (ache, cramp, numbness or sense of fatigue),[1] classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during exercise, such as walking, and is relieved by a short period of rest. It is classically associated with early-stage peripheral artery disease, and can progress to critical limb ischemia unless treated or risk factors are modified.

Claudication derives from the Latin verb claudicare, "to limp".

Epidemiology

Atherosclerosis affects up to 10% of the Western population older than 65 years and for intermittent claudication this number is around 5%. Intermittent claudication most commonly manifests in men older than 50 years.

One in five of the middle-aged (65–75 years) population of the United Kingdom have evidence of peripheral arterial disease on clinical examination, although only a quarter of them have symptoms. The most common symptom is muscle pain in the lower limbs on exercise — intermittent claudication.[2]

Causes

Most commonly, intermittent (or vascular or arterial) claudication is due to peripheral arterial disease which implies significant atherosclerotic blockages resulting in arterial insufficiency. It is distinct from neurogenic claudication, which is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. It is strongly associated with smoking, hypertension, and diabetes.[3]

Signs

One of the hallmarks of arterial claudication is that it occurs intermittently. It disappears after a very brief rest and the patient can start walking again until the pain recurs. The following signs are general signs of atherosclerosis of the lower extremity arteries:

All the "P"s

Diagnosis

Intermittent claudication is a symptom and is by definition diagnosed by a patient reporting a history of leg pain with walking relieved by rest. However, as other conditions such as sciatica can mimic intermittent claudication, testing is often performed to confirm the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease.

Magnetic resonance angiography and duplex ultrasonography appear to be slightly more cost-effective in diagnosing peripheral artery disease among people with intermittent claudication than projectional angiography.[4]

Treatment

Exercise can improve symptoms, as can revascularization.[5] Both together may be better than one intervention of its own.[5]

Pharmacological options exist, as well. Medicines that control lipid profile, diabetes, and hypertension may increase blood flow to the affected muscles and allow for increased activity levels. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, antiplatelet agents (aspirin and clopidogrel), naftidrofuryl, pentoxifylline, and cilostazol (selective PDE3 inhibitor) are used for the treatment of intermittent claudication.[6] However, medications will not remove the blockages from the body. Instead, they simply improve blood flow to the affected area.[7]

Catheter-based intervention is also an option. Atherectomy, stenting, and angioplasty to remove or push aside the arterial blockages are the most common procedures for catheter-based intervention. These procedures can be performed by interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and thoracic surgeons, among others.

Surgery is the last resort; vascular surgeons can perform either endarterectomies on arterial blockages or perform an arterial bypass. However, open surgery poses a host of risks not present with catheter-based interventions.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "intermittent claudication" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ↑ "Edinburgh Artery Study: prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population". Int J Epidemiol. 20 (2): 384–92. Jun 1991. doi:10.1093/ije/20.2.384. PMID 1917239.
  3. ↑ Dr Hicks, Rob. "Intermittent Claudication". BBC Health.
  4. ↑ Visser K, Kuntz KM, Donaldson MC, Gazelle GS, Hunink MG (2003). "Pretreatment imaging workup for patients with intermittent claudication: a cost-effectiveness analysis". J Vasc Interv Radiol. 14 (1): 53–62. PMID 12525586.
  5. 1 2 Frans, FA; Bipat, S; Reekers, JA; Legemate, DA; Koelemay, MJ (January 2012). "Systematic review of exercise training or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intermittent claudication.". The British journal of surgery. 99 (1): 16–28. doi:10.1002/bjs.7656. PMID 21928409.
  6. ↑ Vascular, Team (2015-01-31). "Intermittent Claudication Treatment India". VascularSurgery.
  7. ↑ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, (Published date: 25 May 2011). ""Cilostazol, naftidrofuryl oxalate, pentoxifylline and inositol nicotinate for the treatment of intermittent claudication in people with peripheral arterial disease".". Retrieved July 28, 2016.

Further reading

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