Resumen de Use of the ankle/arm index obtained by echo-doppler as a method for diagnosing peripheral arteriopathies in Primary Care

M. C. Pérez Suárez, C. Díaz Escandón

• Objective. To describe the use of the ankle/arm index obtained by echo-doppler as a method of assessing patients with a clinical picture suggesting peripheral arteriopathy.

  Setting. Sama de Langreo Health Centre (Asturias).

  Patients. 83 patients (166 cases) between 23 and 90, who attended for treatment and had a possible diagnosis of peripheral arteriopathy.

  Measurements and main results. The existence of pedal and posterior tibial pulses was explored by echo-doppler; then the arm/ankle index was calculated. Data on age, sex and concomitant pathologies were collected. The pedal pulse was negative in 11.4%; the posterior tibial in 9.2%. The arm/ankle index was significantly lower in males (0.86) than in women (1.07) (Student's t test 5.11, p<0.0001). It was lower in diabetics (0.896) than in non-diabetics (0.95), but this was not significant (Student's t 0.99, p<0.323).

  Conclusions. Echo-doppler measurement of the ankle-arm index is confirmed as a valid instrument to assist diagnosis and assessment of the severity of ischaemia in Primary Care patients whose clinical picture suggests peripheral arteriopathy.