Micro- and Macrovascular Adaptations in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease During Supervised Exercise Therapy

Micro- and Macrovascular Adaptations in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease During Supervised Exercise Therapy: a MRI Study

Given that previous studies demonstrated the feasibility of the required MRI techniques, we propose to study the macro- and microvascular adaptations in PAOD patients undergoing supervised exercise therapy. It is expected to provide valuable insights into the contribution of each vascular mechanism to the rehabilitation and to identify which vascular mechanism fails or is insufficient for a successful rehabilitation. Improvement of future treatment requires the identification of relevant adaptive mechanisms. With this we will provide early noninvasive MRI readout tools to diagnose and monitor the potential rehabilitation during any form of therapy for PAOD that affects the peripheral vasculature.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Intermittent claudication according to a positive Rose-Edingburgh questionnaire
• Rest ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) < 0,90 or 10% decline in ABPI after exercise
• Arterial stenosis/occlusion of femoro-popliteal territory according to duplex/MRA measurements
• Able to ondergo exercise therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic or acute critical ischemia
• Treated by or planned for vascular surgery or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
• Recent onset <2 months
• Unable to perform treadmill exercise
• Diabetes mellitus
• Contra-indications for (Gadolinium-enhanced) MRI or thigh cuff inflation