Fontaine scheme classification for peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The Fontaine scheme classifies four stages of peripheral arterial disease
- peripheral arterial disease can be asymptomatic (Fontaine stage I) or symptomatic
(Fontaine stages II-IV)
- the most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease is intermittent claudication (Fontaine stage II), which is characterised by pain in the legs or buttocks that occurs with exercise and is relieved with rest
- two further stages exist: pain in the extremities at rest (ischaemic rest pain, Fontaine stage III) and necrosis and gangrene (Fontaine stage IV)
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