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Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) vs. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

Peripheral artery disease specifically affects the arteries in the legs, while peripheral vascular disease can affect any blood vessel outside of the heart and brain. PAD is also a type of peripheral vascular disease, whereas PVD is a general term for any vascular condition that affects the blood vessels. Another difference between PAD and PVD is their cause: PAD is caused by plaque buildup, while PVD can have multiple causes, including atherosclerosis, blood clots, inflammation, and infection.

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Articles of Interest

Peripheral Vascular Diseases

You are likely aware of the common symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease – shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue – that make even light exercise nearly impossible and for some, potentially dangerous. But you may not be as familiar with diseases and issues related to other parts of the vascular system – such as the legs. Many vascular conditions of the legs are treated just like cardiovascular disease by your cardiologist, cardiovascular surgeon or vascular surgeon.

Understanding Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a disease of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain. Among conditions associated with PVD affecting the veins are: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Varicose veins and spider veins, Chronic venous insufficiency, Lymphedema – a type of PVD that affects the lymphatic vessels, essential to the body’s immune system.

What conditions are linked to PVD?

The term peripheral vascular disease encompasses several different conditions...

What Is Peripheral Vascular Disease?

About 10 million Americans suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a slow and progressive circulation disorder that involves arteries and veins outside of the heart, as well as lymphatic vessels. Patients with coronary artery disease often also have peripheral vascular disease because the risk factors and causes can impact veins and arteries throughout their body. Peripheral vascular disorders are conditions that cause changes in the way the blood flows through blood vessels (veins and arteries) in your body. This may occur when an artery becomes narrowed, weakened or blocked. It can occur in vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. When it occurs in the arteries, it is called peripheral arterial disease (PAD).​ Complications of both PVD and PAD include poor wound healing, restricted mobility, limb pain, stroke, heart attack and loss of limb.

Resources

RUSH

The term “peripheral vascular disease” is often used interchangeably with “peripheral artery disease” (PAD), but PVD can apply to any lymphatic or blood vessels, including veins, while PAD only applies to the arteries.

StatPearls

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) includes peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and venous disease. PAD is a chronic progressive atherosclerotic disease leading to partial or total peripheral vascular occlusion. PAD typically affects the abdominal aorta, iliac arteries, lower limbs, and occasionally the upper extremities.