Peripheral Artery Disease

Pathophysiology
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD-also known as Peripheral Vascular Disease or PVD) results from a progressive thickening of an arteries lining (caused by a buildup of plaque) which narrows or blocks blood flow, reducing circulation of the blood to a specific organ or region of the body. This process, atherosclerotic occlusive vascular disease or atherosclerosis, is often called "hardening of the arteries."

Disease statistics
A new analysis from 2000 to 2010 found that although rates of PAD are increasing in all parts of the world, 70 percent (140 million) of sufferers live in low- or middle-income countries, mainly in southeast Asia (54 million) and western Pacific regions (46 million).

Disease treatment
Treatment of peripheral artery disease includes lifestyle measures, supervised exercises, medications, angioplasty, and surgery. Drugs can be prescribed by your doctor to lower cholesterol levels, to reduce or control high blood pressure, to improve blood flow and to control blood sugar in diabetes.

Major research
Stem Cells for Peripheral Vascular Disease-this trial aims to compare the effect of the patient's own blood stem in treating patients with severe peripheral artery disease. The trial is being conducted at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and proposes to recruit 20 subjects.