Clinical Manifestations of Atherosclerosis
Vascular Bed | Acute Manifestations | Chronic Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
Carotid or cerebral arteries | Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke: Sudden neurologic symptoms (eg, numbness, weakness especially when focal, confusion, aphasia) | Transient ischemic attacks and vascular dementia: Memory loss; confusion; trouble with reasoning, planning, judgment, language, and other thinking abilities |
Coronary arteries | Acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina and myocardial infarction): Angina, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, sweating, arrhythmia, hypotension, shock, sudden cardiac death | Stable coronary artery disease: Angina, dyspnea, fatigue |
Thoracic aorta | Dissection or thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture: Sudden severe chest or upper back pain, dyspnea, syncope, hypotension, shock | Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Often asymptomatic |
Abdominal aorta | Abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture: Sudden severe abdominal or back pain, dizziness, hypotension, shock | Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Throbbing or deep back pain, pulsing sensation in the abdomen, intermittent claudication |
Mesenteric arteries | Acute mesenteric ischemia: Sudden severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool | Chronic mesenteric ischemia: Postprandial pain, weight loss |
Renal arteries | Renal artery thrombosis: Sudden severe flank pain, hematuria, nausea, vomiting | Renovascular hypertension and chronic kidney disease: Difficult to control hypertension, fluid retention, fatigue |
Lower extremity peripheral arteries | Acute limb ischemia: Severe pain, coldness, numbness, and pallor in the affected limb | Peripheral artery disease: Claudication, rest pain, non-healing ulcers |