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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffThe ankle-brachial index test is done to check for peripheral artery disease, a condition in which the arteries in your legs or arms are narrowed.
Ask your doctor if you should have this test if you are age 50 or older and have any of these risk factors for peripheral artery disease:
- Being a current or former smoker
- Diabetes
- Overweight (a body mass index of 25 or greater)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
If you've already been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, your doctor may recommend having an ankle-brachial index test to see if your treatment is working or if your condition has worsened.
- Grenon SM, et al. Ankle-brachial index for assessment of peripheral artery disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;361:e40.
- ABI. Vascular Disease Foundation. http://www.vdf.org/diseaseinfo/pad/anklebrachial.php. Accessed April 28, 2010.
- Ankle brachial index. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/ankle-brachial-index.shtml. Accessed April 28, 2010.
- Espinola-Klein C, et al. Different calculations of ankle-brachial index and their impact on cardiovascular risk prediction. Circulation. 2008;118:961.
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