Leriche syndrome

Last reviewed 01/2018

Leriche syndrome is used to describe chronic lower limb ischaemia characterised by:

  • intermittent claudication in the buttocks
  • pale, cold legs
  • sexual impotence
  • absent femoral pulses

It is caused by aorto-iliac obstruction (e.g. saddle embolism at bifurcation of the aorta). The vessels above and below may be relatively normal.