Clinical significance of early venous enhancement on CT angiography of the ischemic lower limbs

Abstract

The authors observed good clinical courses in patients with lower limb ulcers and extensive skin inflammation who showed early venous enhancement at contrast-enhanced lower extremity computed tomographic angiography. The author hypothesized that these early venous enhancements tend to occur in conditions of healthier vascular status. A total of 145 patients who met the inclusion criteria were classified based on the degree of arterial occlusion and early venous enhancement according to lower extremity angiography. Early venous enhancement correlated with age over 65 (t-score = 0.001), absence of ulcer history (t-score = 0.003), absence of amputation history (t-score = 0.004), and low ankle-brachial index (P value = .001). We confirmed that the factors related with early venous enhancement differ from the factor inducing arterial occlusion. Prior to this study, early enhancement of veins in the lower limb was thought to be an artifact. However, in this study, veins that show early enhancement are suspected of being healthier and more responsive to inflammation than those that do not show early enhancement. These findings may help to predict the clinical course and to determine therapeutic planning without additional studies. Also, it can be easily reproduced in other facilities.