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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 .
Of patients with intermittent claudication, only "7% will undergo lower-extremity bypass surgery, 4% major amputations, and 16% worsening claudication", but stroke and heart attack events are elevated, and the "5-year mortality rate is estimated to be 30% (versus 10% in controls)". [84]
The prognosis for patients with peripheral vascular disease due to atherosclerosis is poor; patients with intermittent claudication due to atherosclerosis are at increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart attack), because the same disease that affects the legs is often present in the arteries of the heart. [8]
Symptoms may also include intermittent claudication or pain at rest. In late stages, paresthesia is replaced by anesthesia (numbness) due to death of nerve cells. [11] In severe cases, gangrene can occur suddenly and spread rapidly, [12] and should be treated within six hours of ischaemia. [13]
The symptoms are caused by ischemia of the tissues. Intermittent claudication is manifested by pain, (cramping), numbness, and fatigue in the muscles on exercise. These symptoms are relieved by rest. There may be “rest pain” at night when in bed. Also increased sensitivity to cold, muscular weakness, stiffness of the joints, and paresthesia .
The commonest symptom of arterial occlusion is intermittent claudication, which consists of a painful, aching sensation in the affected muscle. [3] This is often provoked with physical activity and relieved with rest. Pain and muscle aching may build up with walking, and accelerate with light jogging or walking uphill.
Claudication is also considered a symptom of peripheral artery disease. [9] Popliteal bypass surgery may be performed on people with the following symptoms and conditions: [10] Disruption in daily life or the ability to walk from intermittent claudication; Persistent wounds in the leg; Infection or gangrene
This results in claudication and chronic leg ischemia. This condition mainly occurs more in young athletes than in the elderlies. [2] Elderlies, who present with similar symptoms, are more likely to be diagnosed with peripheral artery disease with associated atherosclerosis. [2]