Question

The Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is artificially increased in which of the following?

• A. Arteriosclerosis with calcified arteries
• B. Ischemic ulcers
• C. Intermittent claudication
• D. DVT

Hint:

Non-compressible, stiff vessel walls give a falsely high ankle pressure.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the measurement. ABPI divides the ankle systolic pressure by the brachial systolic pressure, and you need a cuff to compress the artery to read that ankle pressure.
Step 2: Recall what makes a reading too high. If the artery wall is stiff and calcified, the cuff cannot squeeze it shut, so the recorded ankle pressure is spuriously elevated and the ratio is pushed up artificially.
Step 3: Match to the options. Arteriosclerosis with calcified, non-compressible arteries (classically diabetic or renal patients) is exactly that scenario, giving a falsely high ABPI often above 1.3.
Step 4: The remaining choices either lower the index (ischemic ulcers, claudication from true PAD) or belong to the venous system (DVT). Therefore the artificially raised ABPI is due to calcified arteries.
\[\boxed{\text{Arteriosclerosis with calcified arteries}}\]