leg attack

n. disease resulting from restricted blood flow, such as that caused by an arterial blockage, in a lower limb; acute peripheral arterial occlusion. Subjects: English, Aviation, Health

Editorial Note: This term is parallel to heart attack. One type of blockage which causes a leg attack is a deep vein thrombosis; the occurrence of these sorts of blockages in airplane passengers is sometimes called economy-class syndrome.

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Citations: 1998 Usenet: soc.culture.nigeria (Aug. 15) “Nigerian Food, High Cholesterol And Your Heart”: It is a well known fact that high cholesterol diets lead to atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries) which could lead to stroke (brain attack), gangrene of the legs (leg attack), myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertension, etc. 1998 Times of India (Dec. 21) “Leg attack can lead to disability or even death” (in New Delhi): Did you know legs also have “attacks” just like the heart? Thousands of Indians undergo an amputation every year. Of these, half could have been averted if reported to a doctor in time. 2000 Dilnaz Boga Times of India (May 8) “Straight Answers”: These occur due to the narrowing/blockage of arteries due to fat deposits. The problems are brain attack and leg attack. 2005 Vanessa Gisquet Forbes (Jan. 31) “Leg Attack”: Left untreated, leg attacks can lead to ulcers that won’t heal, infections like gangrene, permanent nerve damage and, in severe cases, a 30% chance of amputation of the toes, foot or leg. 2005 Yahoo Finance (Sept. 6) “Nuvelo Begins Phase 3 Program Evaluating Alfimeprase in Patients With Central Venous Catheter Occlusion” (in Sunnyvale, Calif.): Alfimeprase is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical program for the treatment of patients with acute peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO), also known as “leg attack.”

Posted 19 Sep 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend