rosis can narrow the major arterial supply to the legs, the femoral and popliteal arteries. The reduced blood flow results in cramping leg pain during exercise, which is known as intermittent claudication. Severely compromised blood supply to the legs leads to pale or cyanotic, cold legs which eventually may develop gangrene. Aortic aneurysms and renal artery stenosis may also occur due to atherosclerosis.
Several risk factors contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (What). These include diabetes and even a prediabetic state; dyslipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides); aging and being male; smoking; high blood pressure; stress; obesity; inactivity; elevated homocysteine levels (even in the upper normal range); and having a higher than normal blood fibrinogen level. These risk factors all work synergistically.
Role of Macrophages in Atherosclerosis
Macrophages play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by their uncontrolled uptake of atherogenic lipoproteins and subseq
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