Reliability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the assessment of muscle perfusion in health and peripheral arterial disease.
We investigated the reliability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in assessing calf muscle microvascular perfusion in health and disease. Response to a post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia test was repeated on two occasions >48 h apart in healthy young (28 ± 7 y) and elderly controls (70 ± 5 y), and in peripheral arterial disease patients (PAD, 69 ± 7 y; n = 10, 9 and 8 respectively). Overall, within-individual reliability was poor (coefficient of variation [CV] range: 15-87%); the most reliable parameter was time to peak (TTP, 15-48% CV). Nevertheless, TTP was twice as long in elderly controls and PAD compared to young (19.3 ± 10.4 and 22.0 ± 8.6 vs. 8.9 ± 6.2 s respectively; p < 0.01), and area under the curve for contrast intensity post-occlusion (a reflection of blood volume) was ∼50% lower in elderly controls (p < 0.01 versus PAD and young). Thus, CEUS assessment of muscle perfusion during reactive hyperaemia demonstrated poor reliability, yet still distinguished differences between PAD patients, elderly and young controls.
['Thomas|Kate N|KN|', 'Cotter|James D|JD|', 'Lucas|Samuel J E|SJ|', 'Hill|Brigid G|BG|', 'van Rij|André M|AM|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001783:Blood Flow Velocity D003287:Contrast Media D005260:Female D005466:Fluorocarbons D006801:Humans D008297:Male D018482:Muscle, Skeletal D009135:Muscular Diseases D055420:Perfusion Imaging D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease D012016:Reference Values D015203:Reproducibility of Results D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity D014463:Ultrasonography
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound Muscle perfusion Peripheral arterial disease