Terms of Use. When you have this condition, it means you have blockages in the arteries of your arms and legs. An ABI ratio of 0.9 or less means you have PAD. If you have severe leg pain, your doctor may recommend a different imaging test of the arteries in your legs. This may be a little uncomfortable, but it won’t hurt. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. A low ankle-… Symptoms of arteriovenous malformations include seizures and headaches. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Your doctor will look at your results, symptoms, and health history to help you decide what comes next. Depending on your results, you may need other testing or treatments. The ABI itself is the systolic blood pressure reading (top number) in your ankle divided by the systolic blood pressure reading in your arm. Here’s what the numbers mean: If you took an exercise ankle-brachial index test, the range of results may be a little different. Maedica (Buchar), 2014 Sep: 9(3): 295-302. An ABI ratio between 0.9 and 1.0 is borderline. Your doctor uses the blood pressure measurements from your arms and ankles to calculate your ankle-brachial index. Symptoms and diagnosis of PAD. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Your doctor will use a Doppler ultrasound device, a plastic tool that’s a little smaller than a computer mouse. Your healthcare provider might want you to have an ABI test if you are at risk for PAD. Peripheral artery disease is also likely to be a sign of more widespread accumulation of fat deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis or plaque). Your doctor might recommend an ankle-brachial index test if you have leg pain while walking or risk factors for PAD, such as: You may feel some discomfort when the blood pressure cuffs inflate on your arm and ankle. In a normal patient, the pressure at the ankle is slightly higher than at the elbow. CORONAVIRUS: UPDATED VISITOR RESTRICTIONS, INCREASED SAFETY MEASURES + COVID-19 TESTING. Any form of a sedative or anesthesia may affect the BP measurement and thus reduce the accuracy of the ABI. Based on the number your doctor calculates, your ankle-brachial index may show you have: If you have severe diabetes or significantly blocked arteries, your doctor may need to read your blood pressure at your big toe (toe-brachial index) to get an accurate test result. The top number (numerator) is the higher systolic blood pressure found in the ankles. Ask if your healthcare provider has any special instructions. Atherosclerosis is a specific kind of arteriosclerosis, but these terms are often used interchangeably. The blood pressure cuff is inflated proximal to the artery in question. An ankle-brachial index (ABI) test is a simple way for your doctor to check how well your blood is flowing. [15][16] It thus has potential for screening for coronary artery disease,[17] although no evidence-based recommendations can be made about screening in low-risk patients because clinical trials are lacking. Critical Review of the Ankle Brachial Index. Health care providers calculate ABI by dividing the blood pressure in an artery of the ankle by the blood pressure in an artery of the arm. This test doesn’t usually have risks. Peripheral artery disease. In essence, an ankle brachial index (ABI) test measures the blood flow to your legs and feet. Sometimes healthcare providers use ABI to assess your risk of future heart attack or stroke. An ABI test won’t show exactly which blood vessels have become narrowed or blocked, though. The ABPI is calculated by dividing the systolic blood pressure at the ankle by the systolic blood pressure in the arm.