How is peripheral artery disease (PAD) diagnosed?

American Diabetes Association answered:

The ankle brachial index (ABI) is one test used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. If the blood pressure in the lower part of your leg is lower than the pressure in your arm, you may have PAD. An expert panel brought together by the American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes over the age of 50 have an ABI to test for PAD. People with diabetes younger than 50 may benefit from testing if they have other PAD risk factors.

These other tests can also be used to diagnosis PAD:

Angiogram: a test in which dye is injected into the blood vessels using a catheter and X rays are taken to show whether arteries are narrowed or blocked.

Ultrasound: a test using sound waves to produce images of the blood vessels on a viewing screen.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a test using special scanning techniques to detect blockages within blood vessels.

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The ankle brachial index (ABI) is one test used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. If the blood pressure in the lower part of your leg is lower than... More

Dr. William D. Knopf of Piedmont Heart Institute answered:

Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is diagnosed based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from tests.

P.A.D. often is diagnosed after symptoms are reported. An accurate diagnosis is important, because people who have P.A.D. are at increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, stroke, and transient ischemic attack ("mini-stroke"). If you have P.A.D., your doctor also may want to look for signs of these conditions.

Specialists Involved

Primary care doctors, such as internists and family practitioners, may treat people who have mild P.A.D. For more advanced P.A.D., a vascular specialist may be involved. This is a doctor who specializes in treating blood vessel problems.

A cardiologist also may be involved in treating people who have P.A.D. Cardiologists treat heart problems, such as CAD and heart attack, which often affect people who have P.A.D.

Medical and Family Histories

To learn about your medical and family histories, your doctor may ask:

Whether you have any risk factors for P.A.D.
About your symptoms, including any symptoms that occur when walking, exercising, sitting, standing, or climbing
About your diet
About any medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines

This answer from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has been reviewed and/or edited by Dr. William D. Knopf.

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Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is diagnosed based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from tests. P.A.D. often is diagnosed after symptoms are reported. An accurate diagnosis is important, because people who... More

Life Line Screening answered:

Most people do not know they have Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), particularly in the early stages. PAD is often silent. This is a problem because having PAD is a marker for heart attack and stroke. If you have fatty plaque buildup in the small arteries of your legs, it is likely you have this same buildup in other arteries. The vascular system is one big superhighway and it is all connected.

Diagnosis often comes once the disease has progressed and the person is experiencing symptoms. The typical symptom is intermittent claudication, which is a way of saying that the person has pain when they are walking that subsides when he or she rests.

Simple tests are available to screen for and diagnose PAD. Doctors can listen and feel for the pulse in your lower legs and do a physical exam of your feet. In addition, an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test is a quick, easy, non-invasive test that can detect PAD very accurately. As your doctor about this test or look for a community screening that offers it.

The ABI test is particularly important if you are over age 50, smoke or have diabetes.

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Healthy Humans answered:

Peripheral artery disease can be diagnosed right in the physician's office. This may include a test called an ankle-brachial index. A physician can also diagnose peripheral artery disease in the office simply by taking pulses. Very frequently pulses to the feet or what are called the dorsalis pedis pulse and posteror tibial pulse are absent which is an indication that there is peripheral artery disease. A simple test may include an ultrasound of the lower extremities looking at the arteries at rest and then with exertion. This is a very simple non-expensive diagnostic test that can diagnose peripheral artery disease. Further testing can include a CT angiogram or an MRA, a magnetic resonance angiogram, which can actually look at blood flow to the arteries of the legs.

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Peripheral artery disease can be diagnosed right in the physician's office. This may include a test called an ankle-brachial index. A physician can also diagnose peripheral artery disease in the office simply by taking pulses. Very frequently... More

Dr. Manesh Patel of Duke Medicine answered:

It’s a very simple test called the ankle brachial index. You put a blood pressure cuff on your arm and one on your leg. The blood pressure in your arm should be the same as your leg. If the blood pressure in your leg is decreased we assume that there is a narrowing or a blockage somewhere between your arm and your leg. This test gives us an idea of whether you have peripheral arterial disease.

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