Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common cause of intermittent claudication. However, claudication can be caused by other conditions as well.
|
Finding
|
Peripheral Arterial Disease
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Other Cause ("Atypical")
|
|
walking distance required to produce symptoms
|
relatively constant
|
variable
|
|
pain relief of standing for a period of time
|
yes
|
no
|
|
reproducible findings
|
yes
|
no
|
|
risk factors for vascular disease
|
yes
|
variable, may be absent
|
|
pedal pulses after brief period of exercise
|
no
|
yes
|
Additional features of "atypical" claudication:
(1) pain relief only while sitting or lying down
(2) bilateral symptoms
(3) low back pain or other back problems
(4) other findings inconsistent for PAD in history and physical examination
