Sensory neuropathy and signs of central sensitization in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may develop a broad range of peripheral nerve dysfunctions including pain and sensory deficiencies due to chronic ischemia mostly involving the lower limbs. To investigate the degree of sensory abnormalities in such patients quantitative sensory testing (QST) might be a useful tool. Forty-five patients and 20 controls were enrolled in the present study and underwent QST according to the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain. PAD was graded according to the Rutherford classification. PAD patients were divided into two groups: 16 patients with critical limb ischemia (severe PAD) and 29 patients with intermittent claudicatio…