AortoIliac Occlusive Disease

Causes

The most common cause of AIOD is atherosclerosis, the same process that causes heart disease and stroke. Atherosclerosis happens when plaque builds up on the inner walls of your arteries. This plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow.

Other risk factors for AIOD include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the legs
• Family history of atherosclerosis

Symptoms

The main symptom of AIOD is claudication, which is pain, cramping, or aching in your legs or buttocks that occurs with activity and improves with rest. The pain typically occurs in the muscles of your thighs, calves, or buttocks. It may feel like tiredness, tightness, or a burning sensation.

Other symptoms of AIOD can include:

• Leg weakness or numbness
• Coldness in the legs or feet
• Sores that don’t heal on the legs or feet (skin ulcers)
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Treatment

Treatment for AIOD focuses on improving blood flow to your legs and preventing complications. The specific treatment you need will depend on the severity of your condition.

Lifestyle changes

The first line of treatment for AIOD is lifestyle changes. These include:

• Quitting smoking
• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Controlling your cholesterol
• Managing diabetes, if you have it

Medications

Several medications can help improve blood flow and manage symptoms of AIOD. These include:

• Antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin or clopidogrel, to help prevent blood clots
• Cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins
• Cilostazol (Pletal) to improve blood flow in your legs

Procedures

In some cases, you may need a procedure to open up blocked arteries. Procedures used to treat AIOD include:

• Angioplasty/ Stenting: A thin tube with a balloon at the tip is inserted into the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to open up the artery. A stent, a small wire mesh tube, may be placed in the artery to keep it open (Click here to read more on Angioplasty/stenting)
• Bypass surgery: A healthy blood vessel is taken from another part of your body and used to create a detour around the blocked artery.

Conclusion

Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a serious condition that can lead to complications such as leg pain, sores that don’t heal, and even amputation. If you have symptoms of AIOD, it’s important to see a doctor right away for diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications and improve your quality of life.