Jeroen J W M Brouwers1, Louk P van Doorn2, Rob C van Wissen2, Hein Putter3, Jaap F Hamming2. 1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.j.w.m.brouwers@lumc.nl. 2. Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Because of the presence of medial calcific sclerosis, both ankle-branchial index and toe pressure measures can yield misleading results when attempting to diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD). A new ultrasound parameter, maximal systolic acceleration (ACCmax), can be an accurate tool for diagnosing PAD, including in diabetic patients. However, it has not been evaluated thoroughly. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using ACCmax to diagnose and assess the severity of PAD. METHODS: The human circulatory system was simulated using an in vitro circulatory system driven by a pulsatile pneumatic pump. Arterial stenosis of various degrees (50%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) was simulated in order to investigate the change in several ultrasound parameters (including ACCmax), as well as the intraluminal mean arterial pressure gradient. In a separate set of measurements, interobserver variability was measured using two investigators who were unaware of the degree of stenosis. RESULTS: ACCmax significantly decreased (P < .001), and the pressure gradient increased (P < .001) as the degree of stenosis increased. Moreover, we found a strong correlation between ACCmax and the pressure gradient (R2 = 0.937). Finally, interobserver variability with respect to ACCmax was extremely low, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this flow model study suggest that ACCmax can be a valid, noninvasive tool for diagnosing PAD. Moreover, our finding that ACCmax decreases as the severity of stenosis increases, together with the strong correlation between ACCmax and the pressure gradient, suggests that ACCmax may be useful as an alternative diagnostic tool for assessing the severity of PAD. These promising in vitro data warrant further study in a clinical setting.
BACKGROUND: Because of the presence of medial calcific sclerosis, both ankle-branchial index and toe pressure measures can yield misleading results when attempting to diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD). A new ultrasound parameter, maximal systolic acceleration (ACCmax), can be an accurate tool for diagnosing PAD, including in diabeticpatients. However, it has not been evaluated thoroughly. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using ACCmax to diagnose and assess the severity of PAD. METHODS: The human circulatory system was simulated using an in vitro circulatory system driven by a pulsatile pneumatic pump. Arterial stenosis of various degrees (50%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) was simulated in order to investigate the change in several ultrasound parameters (including ACCmax), as well as the intraluminal mean arterial pressure gradient. In a separate set of measurements, interobserver variability was measured using two investigators who were unaware of the degree of stenosis. RESULTS: ACCmax significantly decreased (P < .001), and the pressure gradient increased (P < .001) as the degree of stenosis increased. Moreover, we found a strong correlation between ACCmax and the pressure gradient (R2 = 0.937). Finally, interobserver variability with respect to ACCmax was extremely low, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this flow model study suggest that ACCmax can be a valid, noninvasive tool for diagnosing PAD. Moreover, our finding that ACCmax decreases as the severity of stenosis increases, together with the strong correlation between ACCmax and the pressure gradient, suggests that ACCmax may be useful as an alternative diagnostic tool for assessing the severity of PAD. These promising in vitro data warrant further study in a clinical setting.
Authors: Jeroen J W M Brouwers; Louk P van Doorn; Laurie Pronk; Rob C van Wissen; Hein Putter; Abbey Schepers; Jaap F Hamming Journal: Vasc Endovascular Surg Date: 2022-03-02 Impact factor: 1.046