• PA
    PA School SurvivalDidactic Year
Subjects
  • 📖Medical Terminology
  • 🦴Gross Anatomy
    • Study Playbook
    • By Region
    • PNS Chart
    • My Lectures
    • Practice
  • 🧬Immunology & Genetics
    • Study Playbook
    • By Topic
    • My Lectures
    • Practice
  • 🧪Physiology
    • Study Playbook
    • By System
    • My Lectures
    • Practice
My material
  • 🗂️My Library
  • ✍️Notes & Sketches
Study Tools
  • 🎓Flashcards
  • 📡To revisit
  • 🗓️Calendar
  • 📈Progress
  • ✅Prep Rounds
  • 🧬Body Systems
  • 💊Pharmacology
  • 🔗Offsite Resources
  • 🧭Guide & FAQ
  • 💡
    Suggest a FeatureLet us know what we can do better — we genuinely want to help you in class.
PANCE Body Systems
  • 🫀Cardiovascular
    11%
  • 🫁Pulmonary
    9%
  • 🍎Gastrointestinal/Nutrition
    8%
  • 💪Musculoskeletal
    8%
  • 🧠Neurology
    7%
  • 🦠Infectious Disease
    7%
  • 💭Psychiatry/Behavioral
    7%
  • 🤰Reproductive
    7%
  • 🦋Endocrine
    6%
  • 👁️Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat
    6%
  • 🩸Hematology
    5%
  • 🫘Renal
    5%
  • 💧Genitourinary
    4%
  • 🖐️Dermatology
    4%
Weights are study aids — verify each exam cycle.
⌘K
NotesPricingSign in
About·Tools·Terminology·Anatomy playbook·Anatomy by region·Immunology & genetics·Immunology playbook·Physiology·Physiology playbook·Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·PANCE Blueprint

PANCE® is a registered trademark of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). This application is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the NCCPA.

For educational use only. Content is AI-generated, may contain errors, and is not medical advice — always verify against current primary sources and faculty guidance before clinical use.

HomeCardiovascularPeripheral Arterial Disease
🫀

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Cardiovascular · ~11% of blueprint
🔬Pathophysiology
Atherosclerotic stenosis of peripheral (esp. lower-limb) arteries → ↓ perfusion. Same risk factors as CAD; smoking & diabetes are strongest.
🩺Signs & Symptoms
Intermittent claudication (calf pain with walking, relieved by rest); ↓ pulses, hair loss, shiny skin, dependent rubor. Severe: rest pain, ulcers, gangrene.
🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) ≤0.90. CTA/MRA for anatomy before intervention.
💊First-line Treatment
Risk-factor control (smoking cessation), supervised exercise, antiplatelet + statin; cilostazol for symptoms; revascularize critical limb ischemia.
Drug cardsAspirinClopidogrelAtorvastatinCilostazol
High-Yield Pearl

ABI ≤0.90 is diagnostic. PAD is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis → high MI/stroke risk; treat the whole patient.

Sources

Reviewed September 2026
  1. 2024 ACC/AHA Multisociety Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease — ACC/AHA multisociety, 2024

Checked against the guideline or standard reference the exam keys to. If it has moved, use Report an error below.

More Cardiovascular conditions

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome (STEMI)
  • Acute Pericarditis
  • Aortic Dissection
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Heart Failure (HFrEF)
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Hypertension (Essential)
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Infective Endocarditis
  • Mitral Regurgitation
All Cardiovascular