title: Critical evaluation of venous occlusion plethysmography in the diagnosis of occlusive arterial diseases in the lower limbs.
abstract: In this paper, the value of venous occlusion plethysmography in the differentiation between normal and abnormal is discussed. Data are obtained with an ECG triggered plethysmograph allowing an automatic and also a fast recording of the different parameters of the reactive hyperemia. A group of 74 proven "normal" limbs and of 93 proven "abnormal" limbs was studied. No difference in resting blood flow was seen; however, several parameters derived from reactive hyperemia were significantly different; curves obtained after arrest of the circulation during 3 minutes yielded the best results. Discriminant analysis showed that peak blood flow was the best individual performing parameter; using four variables of the reactive hyperemia curve, an overall performance of 84.9% was obtained with specificity of 93% and sensitivity of 76%. The place of plethysmography in the definition of vascular changes is discussed.
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods