Cardiopulmonary exercise test in arterial disease

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The influence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on the onset of lactate threshold (LT) in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

  • IRAS ID

    179165

  • Contact name

    Francesco Torella

  • Contact email

    f.torella@liv.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University Hospital Aintree

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 6 days

  • Research summary

    The study will investigate whether blockage of the blood vessels in the legs (PAD - or peripheral arterial disease) influences the results of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), an investigation used to look at patients’ fitness before major surgery, during which the patient pedals on an exercise bike whilst his/her heart and lungs are monitored. One of the main parameters measured during CPET is the lactate threshold, which is the moment, during exercise, where the body starts working without oxygen. Patients who have a low lactate threshold are assumed to have poor lung and heart reserve, and are deemed to be at high risk for surgery. Volunteers will undergo CPET before and after correction of symptomatic PAD. As PAD may artificially lower the lactate threshold by impeding oxygen flow to the muscles (oxygen is carried to the muscles through the bloodstream), its correction may result in an increased lactate threshold. If our study indeed shows an increased lactate threshold after PAD correction, then the utility of CPET results in patients with PAD would be questioned. Furthermore, such result would suggest that PAD should be excluded prior to submitting any patient to CPET.

  • REC name

    North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/NW/0801

  • Date of REC Opinion

    27 Oct 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion