title: Comparison of laser Doppler and Doppler ultrasound in lower limb vascular diagnosis.
abstract: This study represents a preliminary investigation into the use of laser Doppler flowmetry in lower limb vascular diagnosis. The method is compared with the accepted method of continuous wave Doppler ultrasound. Fifty-six patients with symptoms of lower limb vascular disease were investigated consecutively and independently using both techniques. In approximately two-thirds of patients the two methods showed broad agreement in their classification of disease severity (correlation coefficient = 0.63, P less than 0.001, n = 41). However, about 30% of those studied had impaired microvascular responses on laser Doppler evaluation with no detectable major vessel disease on continuous wave ultrasound investigation. The results indicate that more information is obtained about a subject's vascular status when results from both methods are combined. Thus laser Doppler flowmetry may be useful adjunct to Doppler ultrasound and segmental pressure measurements in the vascular laboratory.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fail
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sherriff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004301:Doppler Effect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*