The Assessment of Femoral Artery Elasticity in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Abstract

Introduction: Intermittent Claudication (IC) is a pain in one or both legs that occurs when a person walks for a short distance. After a short rest, the person can walk again. Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) has been used with increasing frequency to help evaluating soft-tissue stiffness. The ABPI test is a useful non-invasive technique to diagnose peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Therefore, this study aims at using SWE to investigate the impairment of femoral artery wall elasticity in patients with PAOD. Method: A sample size of 40 IC patients and 9 HC were used to investigate PAOD using SWE. Participants were recruited from underwent routine scanning at the vascular laboratory at Hammersmith hospital between 21 November 2019 and 17 August 2020. Diabetic patients were excluded from the study. Results: SWE results were significant (the right side t(49)=7.631, p=(<.001) and left side t(49)=7.25, p=(<.000)). APBI results were significant (for right side t(49)= -5.808, p=(<.001) and left side t(49)= -5.542, p=(<0.001)). Conclusion: SWE might be used to investigate PAOD and replace the standard ABPI measurement.