ankle-brachial index
Also written as: ABI — ankle-brachial index
Diagnostic ratio comparing systolic blood pressure at ankle to arm, used to assess peripheral arterial disease severity.
Full Definition
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a fundamental non-invasive diagnostic measurement that compares the systolic blood pressure in the ankle arteries to that in the brachial arteries. The test involves measuring systolic pressures using a Doppler probe and blood pressure cuffs at both locations, then calculating the ratio. Normal ABI values range from 1.0 to 1.4, while values below 0.9 indicate peripheral arterial disease. Values below 0.4 suggest severe disease requiring urgent intervention. The ABI is widely used for initial PAD screening, disease severity stratification, and monitoring treatment response.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as ABI; ensure proper hyphenation when spelled out.
In Context
- "The patient's ankle-brachial index of 0.65 confirmed moderate peripheral arterial disease." — Vascular laboratory report
- "Serial ankle-brachial index measurements showed improvement from 0.45 to 0.78 following revascularization." — Follow-up assessment