Aortoiliac and femoropopliteal lesions in patients with concomitant peripheral arterial disease and medial arterial calcification

Abstract

Objective: To characterize stenosis and/or occlusion in patients with concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and medial arterial calcifi cation (MAC). Patients and methods: We performed continuous-wave Doppler technique (to measure the ankle-brachial index - ABI) and duplex ultrasonography in 75 consecutive patients at risk for PAD (57 males, age 72.6±6.3 years) admitted to a Medical Clinic between January and March 2006. Group A was composed of 15 subjects with plaques and ABI higher than 1.3 (MAC - 20%). Normal ABI was found in 43 patients (group B - 57.33%). Group C included 17 patients with ABI lower than 0.9 (ischemia - 22.67%). Results: Nonsignifi cant aortoiliac stenosis (less than 50%) was found in 70 subjects (15 in group A, 39 in group B, and 16 in group C - nonsignifi cant). Signifi cant femoropopliteal stenosis (greater than 50%) was detected in eight patients (fi ve in group A, one in group B, and two in group C – p<0.001). Nonsignifi cant femoropopliteal stenosis was identifi ed in 54 subjects (seven in group A, 42 in group B, and fi ve in group C - p<0.001). Conclusion: Signifi cant femoropopliteal stenosis signifi cantly correlated with presence of MAC. Nonsignifi cant femoropopliteal stenosis was identifi ed in patients with normal ABI.