Usefulness of Exercise-Ankle Brachial Pressure Index Test and Its Diagnostic Criteria in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Diagnostic criteria of Ex-ABI test is not known in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Results of Ex-ABI test were compared with computed tomographic angiography findings in 25 HD patients (50 limbs) who were suspected of peripheral arterial disease. The sensitivity of the Ex-ABI test was the highest (100%) but its specificity was the lowest (48.3%) using the conventional diagnostic criteria (−15.0%) as the cut-off value. On the other hand, the diagnostic accuracy improved using a cut-off value of −35.0% (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 86.2%). In the case of HD patients, it is difficult to use the conventional diagnostic criteria on Ex-ABI test.