What is the likely cause of foot rubor?

Foot rubor, which refers to a redness of the foot, typically indicates an issue related to blood flow. This condition can occur due to insufficient arterial supply, leading to a compensatory reaction in the vasculature of the lower extremities.

In the context of aortoiliac and superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusion, the blockage in these major vessels restricts the flow of oxygenated blood to the foot and lower leg. When blood flow is significantly diminished, the body may respond by dilating blood vessels in the more distal regions, such as the foot, in an attempt to increase perfusion to this area. This dilation often results in the characteristic redness known as rubor.

In contrast, occlusion of the left carotid artery is more relevant to cerebral circulation and would not directly influence the blood flow to the foot; deep vein thrombosis (DVT) primarily affects venous outflow rather than arterial supply and would not typically cause rubor; and iliac artery stenosis could potentially lower blood flow, but is less definitive in causing the specific localized changes in the foot compared to the combined impact of both aortoiliac and SFA occlusions. Thus, the interplay between inadequate arterial supply from significant oc