Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

At NYU Langone, a team of vascular specialists diagnoses and manages people with aortoiliac occlusive disease, a type of peripheral artery disease, using some of the most advanced minimally invasive procedures.

In aortoiliac occlusive disease, one or more of the main arteries in the abdomen or pelvis, or both, become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to the legs. This condition is typically caused by atherosclerosis—a buildup of a hard, waxy substance called plaque—in the aorta, or in the iliac or femoral arteries, which supply blood to the pelvis and legs. 

Reduced oxygen and blood flow to the lower body can cause cramping, fatigue, pain, or open sores on the skin and erectile dysfunction in men. Without treatment, it can cause tissue death, called gangrene, which may result in the loss of a limb.