Usefulness of lower limb ultrasonography for peripheral arterial disease in hemodialysis patients

Although the incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is high among dialysis patients, it is not uncommon for patients to develop ulcers and necrosis suddenly because of their low activity levels and the lack of symptoms caused by PAD. The prognosis of life after lower limb amputation is poor, and the early diagnosis of PAD and determination of the need for treatment are necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with the condition. In this study, lower limb ultrasonography (LUS) was found to be useful as an early diagnostic tool for PAD, and it was also demonstrated to be useful for estimating the sites of lesions, evaluating stenosis, and assessing the risk of critical limb ischemia progressing. It is considered that LUS should be actively performed in dialysis patients that are at risk of PAD.