摘要
周邊動脈疾病起因於全身動脈粥樣硬化，使得全身性動脈窄縮，進而影響大腦、內臟和四肢血流供應。周邊動脈疾病患者發生心肌梗塞、中風或心血管疾病死亡的機率為同年齡族群的三倍以上。下肢周邊動脈疾病的病人在理學檢查上可發現：異常的足背動脈搏動、股動脈雜音、延遲靜脈回填時間、皮膚冰冷及顏色改變，只有10%的患者出現典型間歇性跛行的症狀，其他非典型的症狀常造成臨床醫師診斷上的困難。根據2005年美國心臟病學會基金會（American College of Cardiology Foundation, ACC）及美國心臟協會（American Heart Association, AHA）的臨床指引中，踝肱指數（ankle brachial index, ABI）被建議使用於篩檢和診斷周邊動脈疾病，這種相對低醫療負擔、非侵入性的檢查，可安全運用在老年患者。周邊動脈疾病患者的治療方式包括抗血小板藥物、降血脂藥物、戒菸和運動治療。若經保守治療沒有改善或發生危急性肢體缺血時，需考慮手術治療。
並列摘要
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) results from systemic atherosclerosis and results in the narrowing of arteries, which in turn influences the blood supply of brain, internal organs and extremities. Compared to their normal peers, PAD patients are at a three times greater risk of developing myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular events. Physical signs of PAD include decrease in pedal pulses, femoral artery bruit, slow growth of hair, abnormal skin color and temperature. The most common presenting symptom is intermittent claudication. Due to its subtle physical signs and the lack of classic symptoms in most patients, diagnosis of PAD remains difficult in primary cares, especially in elderly patients. The ACC/AHA 2005 Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease suggest the use of ankle-brachial index (ABI) to screen for and diagnose PAD in primary care settings. PAD patients should be treated with medical therapies, including antiplatelet therapy with aspirin or clopidogrel and lipid-lowering therapy with statin. Moreover, lifestyle modification, smoking cessation, and exercise may improve the symptom of claudication. Supervised walking exercise and home-based walking rehabilitation should be encouraged. Surgical therapies may be considered for patients with claudication that does not respond to medical therapy.