What does chronic leg ischemia most commonly result from?

Chronic leg ischemia primarily arises from insufficient blood flow to the tissues of the leg, and this condition is most commonly caused by atherothrombosis and peripheral arterial disease. These conditions lead to the narrowing or blockage of the arteries, which decreases blood flow over time and causes ischemic symptoms.

Atherothrombosis involves the formation of blood clots on top of atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall, contributing to decreased arterial lumen size and resulting in ischemia. Peripheral arterial disease encompasses a spectrum of vascular diseases affecting the arteries, primarily due to atherosclerosis, leading to reduced blood supply to the extremities.

While popliteal artery entrapment may cause acute ischemia depending on the dynamics of the leg and vascular anatomy, it is less common compared to the chronic effects seen in atherothrombosis or peripheral arterial disease. Venous insufficiency, on the other hand, relates more to venous blood flow and can lead to conditions such as varicose veins or chronic venous stasis ulcers, but it does not typically result in chronic leg ischemia caused by arterial supply issues.

Therefore, atherothrombosis and peripheral vascular conditions are the primary contributors to chronic leg ischemia, rather than