Neurophysiologic studies in peripheral arterial disease

The purpose of the study was to compare the electrophysiological parameters (nerve conduction studies and quantitative electromyography [EMG]) between patients with chronic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and normal control subjects. Forty patients with PAD and 30 control subjects (40 legs) were e valuated clinically and electrophysiologically using previously described m ethods. The amplitude of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and the motor conduction velocities (MCVs) of peroneal and tibial nerve for most pa tients with PAD were within normal limits but compared with those of the co ntrols, it was found that the peroneal and tibial MCVs as well as the ampli tude of sural nerve were significantly decreased. The EMG testing of patien ts with PAD and controls of the anterior tibialis and the gastrocnemius mus cle did not show evidence of denervation or myopathic abnormalities. Howeve r, the mean amplitude and duration of both muscles were significantly large r compared with the controls. Routine electrophysiological studies are not the appropriate (sensitive enough) tests for detecting peripheral nerve or muscle dysfunction associated with PAD.