Are Sonographically Measured Vascular Haemodynamic Parameters Reproducible Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging?
OBJECTIVE
Hemodynamic measurements of blood flow in the common femoral vein and artery can be performed readily using duplex sonography. The ratio of venous to arterial volume flow in these vessels, the venous arterial flow index (VAFI), is increased in patients with varicose veins and/or chronic venous disease. The objective was to determine the reproducibility of sonographically measured hemodynamic flow parameters using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Based on hemodynamic volume flow measurements from the common femoral vein and artery the VAFI was calculated in seven patients with varicose veins (C2, Ep, As, Pr) and 32 healthy controls using standard duplex sonography and MRI.


RESULTS
Based on duplex sonography, the average VAFI (VAFI_d) was 1.05 ± 0.17. The same ratio, using MRI (VAFI_mri) was 1.05 ± 0.19. There was a significant correlation between the VAFI_dand the VAFI_MRI(p = .0021). In patients with venous disease, the average VAFI_dand VAFI_mriwere 1.36 ± 0.21 and 1.36 ± 0.20, respectively. In contrast, in the healthy cohort the VAFI_dwas 1.00 ± 0.12 and the VAFI_mrimeasured 1.01 ± 0.15. As expected, there was a significant difference between the VAFI measured in those with venous disease when compared with that of healthy controls (p < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant correlation between the VAFI measured using sonography and MRI. The study confirmed the elevation of VAFI in patients with chronic venous disease.
Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Rudolphi
Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Recke
Department of Dermatology and Comprehensive Centre for Inflammation Medicine, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Langan
Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Hunold
Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. Electronic address: birgit.kahle@uksh.de.
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Kahle
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
Duplex sonography; Phase contrast MRI; Venous hemodynamics