Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
06:04

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

1.1K

Systolic acceleration time as an indicator of hemodynamic severity in peripheral artery disease with medial artery

Anne-Kathrin Tolke1, Bettina-Maria Taute1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.

VASA. Zeitschrift Fur Gefasskrankheiten
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Systolic acceleration time (AT) and a novel parameter, the absolute difference value of AT (DAT), effectively diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD) even with medial artery calcification. These methods offer reliable alternatives when ankle-brachial index (ABI) is compromised.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Medicine
  • Diagnostic Ultrasound
  • Medical Imaging Analysis

Background:

  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is standard for peripheral artery disease (PAD) diagnosis.
  • Medial artery calcification (MAC) can cause inaccurate, elevated ABI readings.
  • The impact of MAC on alternative diagnostic methods like systolic acceleration time (AT) is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate systolic acceleration time (AT) as a diagnostic tool for PAD.
  • To determine if medial artery calcification (MAC) affects AT measurements.
  • To introduce and validate a new parameter, the absolute difference value of AT (DAT), for PAD assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 238 participants including healthy subjects, patients with MAC, and patients with PAD (with/without MAC).
  • ABI calculated using continuous wave Doppler ultrasonography.
  • Systolic AT measured via color-coded duplex sonography for tibial and brachial arteries.
  • Introduced DAT (absolute difference between crural AT and brachial AT) to mitigate cardiac influences.

Main Results:

  • Medial artery calcification (MAC) did not significantly impact systolic acceleration time (AT) values (p > .05).
  • PAD diagnosis using AT: sensitivity 85%, specificity 87% for AT > 95ms.
  • PAD diagnosis using DAT: sensitivity 82%, specificity 84% for DAT > 20ms.

Conclusions:

  • Systolic acceleration time (AT) is a reliable parameter for diagnosing PAD, unaffected by medial artery calcification (MAC).
  • The novel absolute difference value of AT (DAT) parameter also effectively quantifies PAD severity in the presence of MAC.
  • Both AT and DAT provide valuable, reliable alternatives to ABI for PAD diagnosis and assessment when ABI is compromised by MAC.

Keywords:
absolute difference value of AT (DAT)ankle-brachial-index (ABI)duplex sonographymedial artery calcification (MAC)peripheral artery disease (PAD)systolic acceleration time (AT)

More Related Videos

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

27.5K
Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression13:07

Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression

Published on: January 15, 2022

4.0K

Related Concept Videos

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
34
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
38
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly results from atherosclerosis, which involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, or plaques, within the walls of arteries. This causes them to narrow and harden, significantly reducing blood flow. PAD predominantly affects the legs, particularly the arteries supplying the thighs and calves. In rare cases, it may involve other arteries, including those in the arms.Etiology of PAD:The principal cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which results from fatty...
32
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT01:25

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT

Calcium-Scoring CT ScanA calcium-scoring CT scan, also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, detects calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This test assesses the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to cardiovascular events such as angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest.A calcium-scoring CT scan is generally recommended for individuals at intermediate risk of CAD without symptoms. It includes:Men aged 40-75 and women aged 50-75: Especially those with a...
119
Pulse01:16

Pulse

When the heart pumps blood out, arterial elastic fibers play a crucial role in sustaining a high-pressure gradient. They expand to accommodate the received blood and then recoil - a process known as the pulse that can be either manually palpated or electronically quantified. Despite a reduction in its effect with increased distance from the heart, elements of the pulse's systolic and diastolic components persist, observable even at the arteriole level.
The pulse serves as a clinical...
1.0K
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies01:30

Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies

Diagnosing acute coronary syndrome or ACS begins with a thorough patient history. Notable symptoms include central, crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, along with shortness of breath, sweating (diaphoresis), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and palpitations.It is crucial to note any history of cardiac illnesses and assess risk factors, including age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and a sedentary lifestyle.During physical examination, vital...
23