title: Digital pulse volume recording: an essential test for the assessment of arteritis in diabetic patients.
abstract: The high incidence of medial calcification in the distal arteries of lower extremities in diabetic patients is responsible for most of the errors made in measuring ankle-pressure index. Because digital arteries are rarely calcified, digital pulse volume recording has been proposed as a specific and complementary test. Between March 1993 and March 1996, this test was performed in addition to ankle-pressure index in 66 diabetic patients. The ankle-arm index was overestimated and erroneous in 89.4% of cases. Digital arteries were calcified in 74% of cases and diabetic neuropathy present in 53% of cases. Assessment of the severity of arteritis by digital pulse volume recording (category 1 to 5) has led to better prevention and treatment. It is an essential test for the assessment of arteritis in diabetics, but also for the prediction of success of a surgical procedure: distal amputation, lumbar sympathectomy and arterial reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Unit, Saint George Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kreidy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hajjar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001167:Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015982:Bias; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003663:Decision Trees; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index