BackgroundPeripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis. Adipose tissue (AT) and skeletal muscle (SM) are endocrine organs with vascular effects. The objective is to compare the quantity and function of AT and SM between two groups: intermittent claudication (IC) and critical limb ischemia (CLI).MethodsA prospective observational study is being performed. A transverse CT image at lower border the third lumbar vertebra was used to quantify the SM, visceral and subcutaneous AT. The SM function was inferred with the determination of hand strength using a Jamar® hydraulic hand dynamometer.ResultsFrom December 2018 to May 2019, 44 PAD were studied: 31 with IC (24 male; age: 67 10, 29 years) and 13 CLI (7 male; age: 70, 62 6, 74 years). CLI have a lower quantity of subcutaneous AT and higher quantity of visceral and total AT, determined on the CT scan (subcutaneous AT: 16564,75 7600,00 cm2 IC versus 16067,42 10187,33 cm2 CLI p = 0.03; visceral AT: 17212,20 10096, 30 cm2 IC versus 18904,85 10189,04 cm2 CLI p = 0,03; Total AT: 33222,08 15459,33 cm2 IC versus 57320,00 52538,78 cm2 CLI p = 0.03). CLI had lower SM strength and density (muscle strength right hand: 22,62 8,20 Kgf IC versus 16,38 7,84 Kgf CLI p = 0,02; SM strength left hand: 21,98 8,98 Kgf IC versus 16,37 8,35 Kgf CLI p = 0,04; SM density: 20,44 11,73 HU IC versus 9,04 28,47 HU CLI p = 0,01) No differences were found in the SM quantity (15120,87 3199,35 cm2 IC versus 15322,57 5315,31 cm2 CLI p = 0.44).ConclusionCLI have a higher quantity of visceral, total AT and lower quantity of subcutaneous AT, SM function and density.