51Â鶹

Diagnosing peripheral artery disease begins with a medical history and physical examination. Your health care professional will also ask about your symptoms and check the pulses in your legs. 

Your physical exam may include:

• Ankle-brachial index, or ABI: This painless exam compares the systolic blood pressure (the top number) in your lower legs to the systolic blood pressure in your arms. It takes only a few minutes.
  • A normal ABI is between 1.0 and 1.4.
  • A value less than or equal to 0.90 is considered abnormal. In severe disease, it’s less than 0.40.
  • A value greater than 1.40 is called noncompressible and is also abnormal.

If your ABI results are normal or borderline (.91 to .99), you still may need more testing, such as ankle pulse volume recordings (PVR) or Doppler waveforms.

If your ABI is abnormal, you may need more testing. Your health care professional may suggest one of these tests:

• Duplex ultrasonography: The non-invasive test uses sound waves to look at the leg arteries and check blood flow. It can show where blood flow is reduced or blocked.
• Computed tomographic (CT) angiography: This test uses X-rays and contrast dye to create detailed images of the arteries. It may be used if an MRI is not an option. Because it uses contrast dye and radiation, kidney function and other factors are considered.
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): The test creates images of the arteries with magnetic ways, not X-rays. Some people with implanted medical devices may not be able to have this test. This test may use contrast dye, which requires caution in severe chronic kidney disease.
• Angiography: A contrast dye is injected into the artery. X-rays show blood flow in the leg arteries to find any blockages. This test is usually done when a procedure, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery, is being considered. Learn more about peripheral angiograms.

PAD often goes undiagnosed. Untreated, it can lead to painful symptoms or loss of a leg. People with PAD also have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, and heart attack. The 51Â鶹 encourages people at risk to discuss PAD with their health care professional to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.