Allen’s test in patients with peripheral artery disease

• Published in: Central European journal of medicine 2014-02, Vol.9 (1), p.34-39
• Main Authors: Ruzsa, Zoltán, Tóth, Károly, Berta, Balázs, Koncz, István, Szabó, György, Jambrik, Zoltán, Varga, István, Hüttl, Kálmán, Merkely, Béla, Nemes, Attila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allen’s test; Biomedicine; Internal Medicine; Ishaemia; Maternal and Child Health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Reproductive Medicine; Research Article; Surgery; Transradial access
• ISSN: 1895-1058; 2391-5463; 1644-3640; 2391-5463
• DOI: 10.2478/s11536-013-0178-1

Introduction Transradial (TR) approach for coronary and peripheral angiography has become a popular technique. The Allen’s test (AT) could be used to determine the presence of collateral flow in the hand. Recently, angiographic background of modified AT was evaluated, but patients with peripherial arterial disease (PAD) were excluded in these studies. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess reliability of AT in patients with symptomatic PAD. Methods The present study comprised 92 symptomatic patients with PAD (Rutherford class 2–6). Perfusion of the hand was assessed with AT before outpatient peripheral angiography. Results Significant RA stenosis (n=6, 12.5%) and UA stenosis (n=26, 54.2%) were found in 30 patients with positive AT (62.5%). In patients with negative AT, only UA showed significant stenoses (n=6, 13.6%). Thirty-eight patients with positive AT had anatomic abnormality in the forearm arteries or in the palmar arch (79.2%). Anatomic abnormality in the forearm arteries or in the palmar arch could be detected in 15 cases with negative AT (34.1%, p