Concomitant chronic venous insufficiency in patients with peripheral artery disease: insights from MR angiography

The clinical presentation of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can overlap and the conditions may co-exist. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of concomitant CVI in patients with PAD examined with run-off MR angiography (MRA).

We analysed 180 patients (median age 69 years, range 27 to 91) with known or suspected PAD who underwent MRA at our institution between 2012 and 2018. MRA datasets were re-evaluated for manifestations of CVI. Electronic charts were reviewed to analyse whether diagnosis of CVI was documented and to determine Fontaine stage of PAD.

Evidence of possible CVI on MRA was found in 38 (21%) patients. Only seven (18%) of these patients had a documented diagnosis of CVI. Patients with co-existing PAD and CVI were more likely obese (median BMI 29.7 vs. 26.3 kg/m², p = 0.001) and diabetic (55 vs. 35%, p = 0.039) than patients without CVI. The frequency of concomitant CVI manifestations decreased from distal to proximal with the lower leg affected in all 38 patients and the thigh in 17 patients (45%). Patients with co-existing PAD and CVI were more likely to have a clinical diagnosis of stage IV PAD than patients without co-existing CVI (57% vs. 34%, relative risk 1.68, p = 0.018).

Signs of possible concomitant CVI can be seen in approximately one-fifth of patients with known or suspected PAD examined with run-off MRA. If present, these findings should be reported since CVI may mimic or contribute to symptoms attributed to PAD.

• In total, 21% of patients with PAD patients examined with MR angiography show signs of possible co-existing CVI. • Patients with co-existing CVI were 1.7-fold more likely to have a clinical diagnosis of stage IV PAD. • Our data also showed that co-existing chronic venous insufficiency is under-diagnosed in patients with PAD.