Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a type of vein condition in the legs. It occurs when the iliac artery that brings blood to your legs becomes narrow or blocked by plaque. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, or cramping in the lower limbs, gangrene in the feet, and erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Common treatments for aortoiliac occlusive disease include drugs, exercise, and surgery.
At the UPMC Division of Vascular Surgery, our experts take a team approach to diagnosing and treating aortoiliac occlusive disease.
To request an appointment, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute:
Your aorta is your main blood vessel. It comes out from your heart, down through your chest, and into your belly. There, it branches off into your iliac arteries.
Your iliac arteries bring blood down into your legs.
Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a type of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
It happens when your aorta and iliac arteries become narrow or blocked by:
As plaque builds up, it causes the arteries to narrow and harden, slowing — and even stopping — blood flow.
Atherosclerosis — or hardening of the arteries — is a leading cause of aortoiliac occlusive disease.
Some risk factors for atherosclerosis include:
Another cause can include radiation to the pelvis. This may lead to inflammation in the arteries and progression of PAD.
Aortoiliac occlusive disease develops over a lifetime with varying symptoms.
Symptoms of mild to moderate aortoiliac occlusive disease include:
Symptoms of severe aortoiliac occlusive disease can include:
To diagnose aortoiliac occlusive disease, your UPMC vascular surgeon will:
Your doctor may also use the following tests to confirm a diagnosis of aortoiliac occlusive disease:
Treatment for aortoiliac occlusive disease will depend on the severity and extent of your condition.
For mild forms of aortoiliac occlusive disease, treatments can include:
For more advanced forms of aortoiliac occlusive disease, treatments can include:
