Color Doppler Ultrasound Imaging in the Assessment of Iliac Endofibrosis
  • Title: Color Doppler Ultrasound Imaging in the Assessment of Iliac Endofibrosis
  • Open Access: Nee
  • Language: English
  • Year: 2016
  • DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0003319716649113
  • Publication Date: 13-05-2016
  • Journal: Sagepub - Angiology
  • Authors:

    Fabrizio D'Abate, Kosmas I Paraskevas, Crispian Oates, Roger Palfreeman and Robert J Hinchliffe

  • Pubmed ID: 27178720

Endofibrosis (EF) of the iliac arteries is a flow-limiting condition typically seen in highly trained endurance athletes. Thirty-seven athletes (74 limbs) were referred to our department with suspected EF. All patients had a pre- and postexercise color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) of the iliac arteries. Doppler waveform and peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were assessed pre- and postexercise. Endofibrosis was diagnosed with CDU in 24 athletes (29 limbs). Arterial wall and course abnormalities were detected at rest in 20 (67%) symptomatic limbs of athletes with and 4 (22%) symptomatic limbs of athletes without EF. Postexercise abnormal waveforms of the stenotic/damped type were seen in the iliac arteries in all 29 limbs of athletes diagnosed with EF. These waveform changes were accompanied by high PSV (>350 cm/s) and EDV (>150 cm/s), with (n = 10; 34%) or without (n = 19; 66%) the evidence of reduced arterial lumen caliber. Color Doppler ultrasound can be used to detect EF.