Focus on the Most Common Paucisymptomatic Vasculopathic Population, from Diagnosis to Secondary Prevention of Complications

Abstract

Middle-aged adults can start to be affected by some arterial diseases, such as abdominal aortic or popliteal artery aneurysms, lower extremity arterial disease, internal carotid or renal artery or subclavian artery stenosis. These vasculopathies are often paucisymptomatic before manifesting themselves with dramatic complications. Therefore, early detection of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and aneurysmal disease is fundamental to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Furthermore, PAD carries a high correlation with silent coronary artery disease (CAD). This study focuses on the most common PADs and aneurysmal diseases, in the attempt to summarize some key points which should selectively drive screen. Since it is evident how we are not in the human and economic possibilities to instrumentally screening wide populations, deep knowledge of semeiotics and careful anamnesis must play a central role in our daily activity as physician. The presence of some risk factors for atherosclerosis, or an already known history of CAD, can raise the clinical suspecion of PAD or aneurysmal disease after a careful clinical history and a deep physical examination. The clinical suspicion must then be confirmed by a first-level ultrasound investigation and, if so, adequate treatments can be adopted to prevent dreadful complications.