Patient Education
How is Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) Diagnosed?
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the mainstay of non-invasive tests performed to determine whether a person has Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.). The ABI is a test that involves taking the blood pressure at several locations in the body and doing a simple calculation. First the blood pressure is measured at the brachial artery of each arm using a blood pressure cuff placed around the upper arm. Then the blood pressure is measured in the foot using a blood pressure cuff around the ankle.These blood pressure values are used to calculate the ABI using the following formula: ABI = BP in ankle รท BP in arm