The measurement of Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is a useful, non-invasive test performed during investigations of vascular function and has long been used to aid detection and diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Deriving the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI), by dividing the systolic blood pressure at the ankle by the systolic blood pressures in the arm is relatively simple to perform and is widely used. Some patients presenting with PAD are asymptomatic, and an abnormal Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is the first indication of the presence of disease. Calculation of the ABPI is also used in some studies to classify patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is known to be unreliable on patients with arterial calcification which results in less or incompressible arteries, as the stiff arteries produce falsely elevated ankle pressure. This is often found in patients with diabetes mellitus. 41% of patients with PAD have diabetes, renal failure, or are heavy smokers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-8371","m_applications","type-m_applications","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n