Are Sonographically Measured Vascular Haemodynamic Parameters Reproducible Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

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).

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.

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_{_d} and the VAFI__MRI (p = .0021). In patients with venous disease, the average VAFI_{_d} and VAFI__mri were 1.36 ± 0.21 and 1.36 ± 0.20, respectively. In contrast, in the healthy cohort the VAFI_{_d} was 1.00 ± 0.12 and the VAFI__mri measured 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).

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.