A decrease in ABI of 15%–20% would be diagnostic of PAD.If ABIs are abnormal, the next step is generally a lower limb Doppler ultrasound to look at the site of obstruction and extent of atherosclerosis. Other imaging can be performed by angiography, where a catheter is inserted into the common femoral artery and selectively guided to the artery in question. While injecting a radio-dense contrast agent, an X-ray is taken. Any blood flow-limiting blockage found in the X-ray can be identified and treated by procedures including atherectomy, angioplasty, or stenting. Contrast angiography is the most readily available and widely used imaging technique. Modern computerized tomography (CT) scanners provide direct imaging of the arterial system as an alternative to angiography.Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of a large magnet, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of blood vessels inside the body. The advantages of MRA include its safety and ability to provide high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of the entire abdomen, pelvis and lower extremities in one sitting. Classification
The two most commonly used methods to classify peripheral artery disease are the Fontaine and the Rutherford systems of classification.
Amitriptyline/chlordiazepoxide, sold under the brand names Limbitrol and Limbitrol DS, is a combination of amitriptyline (Elavil), a tricyclic antidepressant, and chlordiazepoxide (Librium), a benzodiazepine, which is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe depression associated with moderate to severe anxiety in the United States. It contains 12.5 to 25 mg amitriptyline and 5 to 10 mg chlordiazepoxide per tablet. == References ==