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Vascular Tests for Dermatologists

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Abstract

Dermatologists encounter patients with a variety of lower extremity ulcers including those related to venous insufficiency and peripheral arterial disease. Vascular studies, including ankle brachial pressure index, toe pressure, toe brachial index, Doppler arterial waveform, Duplex ultrasonography, and angiography, play an essential role in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of vascular diseases. In fact, dermatologists are often the first medical providers to see patients with complex vascular conditions. Knowledge of the appropriate indications, interpretations, limitations, and advantages of the various vascular studies is critical to the successful and swift management of each patient presenting with a lower extremity ulcer. This study reviews the most commonly ordered arterial and venous studies and discusses the appropriate indications and interpretation of these studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Ali Rajabi-Estarabadi & Robert S. Kirsner

  2. Division of Vascular Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ahmed Kayssi

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Afsaneh Alavi

  4. Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5S 1B2, Canada

    Afsaneh Alavi

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  1. Ali Rajabi-Estarabadi
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Correspondence to Afsaneh Alavi.

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Ali Rajabi-Estarabadi, Ahmed Kayssi, Afsaneh Alavi, and Robert Kirsner have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Rajabi-Estarabadi, A., Kayssi, A., Alavi, A. et al. Vascular Tests for Dermatologists. Am J Clin Dermatol 20, 657–667 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-019-00441-x

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