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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
Published on: January 29, 2013
The observation of below-the-knee artery by optical frequency domain image and angioscopy: a case series
Haruya Yamane1, Yasunori Ueda1, Kuniyasu Ikeoka1
1Cardiovascular Division, NHO Osaka National Hospital, 2-1-14 Hoenzaka, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 540-0006, Japan.
Insights
Understanding non-stenotic below-the-knee (BTK) artery atherosclerosis is key to improving endovascular treatment (EVT) outcomes. This case series used optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and angioscopy to explore BTK artery characteristics in EVT patients.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Endovascular treatment (EVT) is standard for chronic limb-threatening ischemia, targeting below-the-knee (BTK) arteries.
- High re-intervention rates necessitate a deeper understanding of BTK artery atherosclerosis.
- This study investigates non-stenotic BTK artery atherosclerosis in EVT patients.
Observation:
- A case series of five patients undergoing superficial femoral artery (SFA) EVT was observed.
- Optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and angioscopy were used to examine the ipsilateral BTK artery.
- Atherosclerosis severity varied, with two patients showing advanced disease and three exhibiting mild disease.
Findings:
- Patients presented with multiple risk factors and SFA/BTK artery stenosis or occlusion.
- Some patients with BTK artery stenosis/occlusion lacked significant atherosclerosis in the examined segment.
- This suggests potential non-atherosclerotic mechanisms contributing to BTK artery occlusion in some cases.
Implications:
- Findings highlight the complex nature of BTK artery disease beyond simple stenosis.
- Further research is needed to elucidate alternative mechanisms of BTK artery occlusion.
- Improved understanding may lead to more effective and durable EVT strategies for limb salvage.
Background:
Endovascular treatment (EVT) is a well-established treatment for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, and below-the-knee (BTK) artery is its main target, although the re-intervention rate is still high. Understanding of the characteristics of BTK artery atherosclerosis would be required to overcome this issue. In this case series, we elucidated the characteristics of non-stenotic BTK artery atherosclerosis in the patients who received EVT of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and angioscopy.
Case Summary:
We presented five patients who underwent EVT of SFA and subsequent observation of ipsilateral BTK artery using OFDI and angioscopy. Patients one and two had advanced atherosclerosis; however, patients three, four, and five had only mild atherosclerosis.
Discussion:
All patients had multiple risk factors for atherosclerosis and stenosis/occlusion of the SFA and ipsilateral BTK arteries. Furthermore, some patients had several other atherosclerotic vascular diseases suggesting the presence of advanced systemic atherosclerosis. On the other hand, some patients with multiple BTK artery stenosis/occlusion did not have advanced atherosclerosis in the examined BTK artery. The absence of significant atherosclerosis in a BTK artery in patients with multiple stenoses or occlusion in other ipsilateral BTK arteries may suggest some mechanism of vessel occlusion other than atherosclerosis. Further investigations are needed to clarify the mechanism.
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