Question

A 75 year-old female with history of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia presents for routine follow-up. Physical examination reveals loss of hair on the lower extremities bilaterally with thinning of the skin. Femoral pulses are +2/4 bilaterally, pedal pulses are diminished bilaterally. Ankle brachial index is reduced. What signs or symptoms is this patient most likely to have?

Answer 1

The patient with a history of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia, presenting with lower extremity hair loss and reduced pulses, is most likely exhibiting symptoms of Peripheral artery disease (PAD), which includes intermittent claudication due to narrowed peripheral arteries caused by atherosclerosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 75-year-old female with a history of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia, who presents with hair loss on the lower extremities, thinning of the skin, and reduced ankle brachial index, is most likely to have symptoms of Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Among these symptoms are intermittent claudication, which is leg pain that occurs during walking and resolves with rest, and possibly skin ulcers, cold skin, as well as poor nail and hair growth on the affected limbs. PAD is typically caused by atherosclerosis leading to the narrowing of peripheral arteries, primarily in the legs, and is related to risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.