Utilidad del índice tobillo/brazo en un paciente aparentemente normotenso con lumbociatalgia crónica y disfunción eréctil

Anamnesic and examination data are still the key for the management of the hypertensive subject. In addition, and against the growing division into parcels of medical knowledge, it is necessary to have a global and integrating view. This requires the active search for the target organ injury. To do so, the ankle/brachial index (ABI) is a simple test which, simultaneously, makes it possible to detect reversible arterial lesions and therefore treat the symptoms by intermittent claudication or manifestations that are also related and often overlooked, such as erectile dysfunction or renovascular hypertension. We must not forget that the best marker of risk is the correct levels of BP and their correct interpretation and that such common errors as using a single measurement of blood pressure, and the phenomenon of rounding up or down or of alarm should be avoided. Approximately half of patients with pathological ABI are asymptomatic or have atypical claudication. Thus, it is recommendation to made extensive use of the ABI in the significant cardiovascular risk population independently of the presence of symptoms.