What are chronic atherosclerotic occlusive diseases?

• Atherosclerosis may affect the thoracic and abdominal aorta. • Occlusive aortic disease caused by atherosclerosis usually is confined to the distal abdominal aorta below the renal arteries • Claudication characteristically involves the buttocks, thighs, and calves and may be associated with impotence in males (Leriche's syndrome) • The severity of the symptoms depends on the adequacy of collaterals. • The physical findings include the absence of femoral and other distal pulses bilaterally and the detection of an audible bruit over the abdomen (usually at or below the umbilicus) and the common femoral arteries • Atrophic skin， loss of hair， and coolness of the lower extremities usually are observed