Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Microcirculation With Ultrasound
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Standardised Claudication Treadmill Test
- Sponsor
- Imperial College London
- Enrollment
- 5
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Threshold of High to Low Frequency Ratio (Threshold HLFR)
- Status
- Terminated
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to validate the use of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in measuring the blood supply to the muscles of the leg, and how this changes with exercise and vascular pathology.
Detailed Description
We propose a model for the use of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (DCEU) to directly evaluate the microcirculation of the musculoskeletal system. We believe that this will be a valuable research tool into diseases of the microcirculation, and in the future may also offer a clinical benefit by quantifying and monitoring disease over time and after intervention. It may also allow targeting of therapies towards those patients most at risk of ulcers and peripheral neuropathy, and those that would get the maximum benefit from these therapies.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Threshold of High to Low Frequency Ratio (Threshold HLFR)
Time Frame: Baseline, 20 minutes
Please see published article for in depth method. This ratio is used to classify a given signal as either microbubble or noise. For a pixel containing a micro vessel, as microbubbles occasionally pass this otherwise dark pixel, its temporal signal is expected to have a higher proportion of lower frequency components than white noise. Consequently, the HLFR of the pixel is expected to be smaller than that of noise. A histogram of normalised HLFR shows two expected peaks (one noise, one bubbles). A threshold (Threshold HLFR) is determined to then separate the two peaks. this is done using a double Gaussian model, and where they intercept is deemed the Threshold HLFR.