Neurological and electrophysiological parameters as outcome measurements for peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Ischemic monomelic neuropathy is not an uncommon complication of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). However, many investigators have used revascularization, limb salvage, and complete wound healing rates instead of neurologic and electrophysiological parameters as outcome measurements of PAOD. The aim of the study is to investigate the neurologic and electrophysiological parameters associated with PAOD and to find the ideal tools for assessing PAOD.

A total of 38 PAOD patients (68.5 ± 8.1 years old, male:female = 32:6) with a total of 76 lower limbs were enrolled in the study. Primary outcomes were neurological symptoms scores (NSSs) and neurological impairment scores (NISs) for the lower extremities. Secondary outcomes were taken from nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and included the following: sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the sural, superficial peroneal, and medial plantar nerves and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes of the posterior tibial and common peroneal nerves.

Female patients with old age, hypertension, low body weights, low body mass indices (BMIs), decreased ankle-brachial indices (ABIs), and poorer Fontaine classifications exhibited worse NSSs and NISs indices. Patients with old age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, histories of social alcohol consumption, low body weights, low BMIs, and poorer Fontaine classifications exhibited decreased SNAP and CMAP amplitudes in the sensory and motor NCSs. Decreased ABI was associated with decreased SNAP amplitudes in the sensory NCSs.

Neurologic and electrophysiological parameters can be good tools for the assessment of PAOD. NSSs and NISs are particularly good candidates for outcome measures of PAOD.