title: [Physical diagnostics--peripheral arterial diseases].
abstract: In a patient with a high a priori risk of peripheral vascular disease, the positive predictive value of an abnormal physical diagnostic examination is high. In patients with a low prior probability of peripheral vascular disease, the physical examination makes little contribution to the diagnosis or exclusion of arterial insufficiency. For this purpose the ankle-brachial systolic pressure index is preferable. Peripheral arterial disease is unlikely when this index is normal. However, a low ankle-brachial index necessitates further investigations to determine possible arterial insufficiency in the lower extremities.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Meibergdfeef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam. m.m.levi@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Legemate
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle; D001132:Arm; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013599:Systole; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history