MR-based calf muscle perfusion index correlates with treadmill exercise test parameters in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Background The functional impairment caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is difficult to evaluate objectively and quantitatively. Current methods used to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in patients with PAD are limited by variability and changes representing the placebo effect. Recently, Gadolinium-enhanced first-pass (FP) MRI has emerged as a new method to assess perfusion in peripheral muscles at peak exercise. We seek to demonstrate that calf muscle perfusion index measured with FP MRI at peak exercise correlates with treadmill exercise measures of ischemia in patients with PAD.