A popliteal artery aneurysm may not cause any noticeable symptoms. The first symptom may be pain the lower leg that occurs with walking (claudication). Other signs and symptoms of a popliteal artery aneurysm include:   Knee pain Lower leg pain Swelling behind the knee Pulsing sensation behind the knee  Causes An aneurysm is a ballooning in a weak spot in an artery wall. Many different things can cause the popliteal artery wall to become weak, including:  Clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) High blood pressure Wear and tear of the popliteal artery due to repetitive use of the knee joint Weakening of the artery wall  Risk factors Popliteal artery aneurysms are rare. They are more common in men than in women. Popiteal artery aneurysms often occur in men with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a swelling of the wall of the body's main artery (aorta). Anyone diagnosed with popliteal artery aneurysm should be screened for AAA. AAA Other risk factors for popliteal artery aneurysm include:  Increasing age High blood pressure (hypertension) Smoking Narrowing of a heart valve (stenotic disease) Having three or more aneurysms anywhere in the body  Complications Complications of popliteal artery aneurysm include blood clots (thrombosis) and, rarely, rupture of the aneurysm. Thrombosis of a popliteal artery aneurysm can cause a severe lack of blood flow (ischemia) in the lower leg, which may result in loss of the limb. Sudden leg ischemia can cause the following signs and symptoms:  A change in skin color in the affected area No pulse behind the knee Skin in the affected area feels cold Numbness in the leg Inability to move the foot  The risk of popliteal artery aneurysm rupture is low. Prevention Smoking and high blood pressure (hypertension) increase the risk of blood vessel (vascular) problems that can lead to popliteal artery and other aneurysms. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle — such as not smoking, eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise — can help prevent heart disease and blood vessel damage.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff  Popliteal artery aneurysm care at Mayo Clinic 
popliteal artery aneurysm may cause noticeable symptoms  first symptom may pain lower leg occurs walking (claudication)  signs symptoms popliteal artery aneurysm include:   knee pain lower leg pain swelling knee pulsing sensation knee  causes aneurysm ballooning weak spot artery wall  can cause popliteal artery wall weak  including:  clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) high blood pressure wear tear popliteal artery due repetitive knee joint weakening artery wall  risk factors popliteal artery aneurysms rare  common men women  popiteal artery aneurysms occur men abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa)  swelling wall body's artery (aorta)  diagnosed popliteal artery aneurysm screened aaa  aaa risk factors popliteal artery aneurysm include:  increasing age high blood pressure (hypertension) smoking narrowing heart valve (stenotic disease) aneurysms body  complications complications popliteal artery aneurysm include blood clots (thrombosis) and  rarely  rupture aneurysm  thrombosis popliteal artery aneurysm can cause severe lack blood flow (ischemia) lower leg  may result loss limb  sudden leg ischemia can cause following signs symptoms:  change skin color affected area pulse knee skin affected area feels cold numbness leg inability move foot  risk popliteal artery aneurysm rupture low  prevention smoking high blood pressure (hypertension) increase risk blood vessel (vascular) problems can lead popliteal artery aneurysms  following heart-healthy lifestyle — smoking  eating nutritious diet regular exercise — can help prevent heart disease blood vessel damage                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff  popliteal artery aneurysm care mayo clinic 
popliteal artery aneurysm