Peripheral artery disease in dialysis cases is more prone to critical limb ischemia compared to non-dialysis cases, with a significantly high rate of major amputation of the lower limbs. Lesions are distributed on the more distal side in dialysis critical limb ischemia cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of indocyanine green angiography to determine differences in the regional circulation in the foot between dialysis and non-dialysis patients.

The subjects included 62 cases, among which 20 were dialysis patients and 42 were non-dialysis patients. We compared the indocyanine green angiography parameters for regions of interest in the dialysis and non-dialysis groups, which included the magnitude of intensity from indocyanine green onset to maximum intensity (Imax), the time from indocyanine green onset to maximum intensity (Tmax), the time elapsed from the fluorescence onset to half the maximum intensity (T1/2), and the time from maximum intensity to declining to 90% of the maximum intensity (Td90%). These indocyanine green angiography parameters were measured at region of interest 1 (the Chopart joint), region of interest 2 (the Lisfranc joint), and region of interest 3 (the distal region of the first metatarsal bone).

In the comparison between the dialysis and non-dialysis groups, a significant difference was observed regarding Tmax, T1/2, and Td90%, especially in region of interest 3.

In this study, we show that regional tissue perfusion is more deteriorated in dialysis patients compared with non-dialysis patients using indocyanine green angiography. Tmax, T1/2, and Td90% could be useful clinical parameters to compare ischemic severity of the lower limb between dialysis and non-dialysis patients.