Superficial femoral artery plaque and functional performance in peripheral arterial disease: walking and leg circulation study (WALCS III).

Objectives: We studied associations of magnetic resonance imaging measurements of plaque area and relative percent lumen reduction in the proximal superficial femoral artery with functional performance among participants with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: The clinical significance of directly imaged plaque characteristics in lower extremity arteries is not well established.

Methods: A total of 454 participants with an ankle brachial index <1.