Research on Peripheral Vascular Disease Diagnosis

According to recent research published in the Indian Journal of Surgery, researchers, having considered CT angiography as the gold standard investigation, noted that Color Doppler ultrasound proved to be a better modality compared to the ankle-brachial pressure index for the diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease.

Peripheral vascular diseases (PVD) are a group of common degenerative (organic) and vasospastic (functional) disease processes that result in significant morbidity and are strong predictors of subsequent mortality. It is diagnosed by a definitive history of intermittent claudication or if one or more peripheral pulses are absent in one or both lower limbs. The debilitating nature of PVD calls for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The gold standard of diagnosis is angiography. However, the use of this technique is limited due to its invasive nature, the use of contrast agents, and its cost.

However, a variety of non-invasive techniques, viz., ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) test and color Doppler imaging, are available to diagnose the presence of PVD as well as to localize areas of stenosis, assess the severity of the disease, and follow patients for disease progression or response to therapy.

Therefore, Shradha Gupta and associates conducted the present study to compare color Doppler ultrasound and ABPI individually and in combination in diagnosing cases of peripheral vascular diseases, considering CT angiography the gold standard investigation.

The assessment of the sample was done based on previous history, clinical examination, and other relevant investigations which were noted in the datasheet according to the proforma including the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire. Relevant statistical tests were carried out for the comparison of color Doppler ultrasound and ankle-brachial pressure index measurement in peripheral vascular diseases.

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and the negative predictive value were calculated for the comparison of ABPI and color Doppler imaging with CT angiography.

Based on the findings, the authors concluded that "Color Doppler ultrasound proved to be a better modality as compared to the ankle-brachial pressure index for diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease, considering CT angiography the gold standard investigation."