Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI)

The ankle-brachial index (ankle SBP/arm SBP) is a simple method for detecting the presence of lower extremity peripheral artery compromise in a non-invasive manner. ABI uses the patient's own brachial (arm) blood pressure as control to determine what lower extremity (ankle) pressure SHOULD be. Normally, there is little (<10%) difference between systolic pressures at both sites.