It is a disease of the large blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, the aorta, and the sizable arteries in the brain and in the limbs.
This sometimes occurs when a person has had diabetes for an extended period of time.
Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis (thickening and hardening of arterial walls), characterized by plaque deposits of lipids, fibrous connective tissue, calcium, and other blood substances.
Atherosclerosis, by definition, affects only medium and large arteries (excluding arterioles).
Peripheral vascular disease and increased risk of infection have important implications in the care of the acutely ill patient.