Pedal Pulses Disappearing with Exercise — A Test for Intermittent Claudication

THE association of intermittent claudication with obstructive atherosclerosis is well recognized. However, the presence of readily palpable pedal pulses easily deters one from considering atherosclerosis and arterial occlusion as the cause of claudication. Actually, significant partial to complete obstruction of an artery may be associated with palpable distal pulses. Exercise to the point of claudication causes these pulses to disappear, with a gradual return with rest, whereas normally the peripheral pulses remain unchanged or increase with exercise. Although this phenomenon has been reported^{1 2 3} its value in screening patients with symptoms suggestive of intermittent claudication has not been generally recognized.Thirteen . . .