Assessing Gluteal Muscle Blood Flow in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Evaluation of Gluteal Muscle Perfusion in Patients With Intermittent Gluteal Claudication by Non-invasive Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography With Pre-post Study Design

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital Erlangen · NCT06391346

This study is testing how blood flow in the gluteal muscles changes during exercise in people with intermittent claudication to see if it can help improve diagnosis and treatment options.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital Erlangen Academic / other
Locations1 site (Erlangen, Bavaria)
Trial IDNCT06391346 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the blood flow in the gluteal muscles of patients experiencing intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT). Participants will undergo a stepper exercise to induce claudication pain, after which MSOT measurements will be taken to assess changes in muscle perfusion. The study will also correlate MSOT data with other clinical assessments, including walking distance and quality of life metrics. The goal is to establish independent parameters for diagnosing gluteal muscle perfusion issues pre and post-revascularization.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with gluteal claudication in Fontaine stage II and corresponding stenosis in relevant arteries.

Not a fit: Patients with more severe or less severe stages of peripheral arterial disease, or those with other significant health issues, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved diagnostic methods for assessing gluteal claudication and better treatment strategies for patients with peripheral vascular diseases.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on peripheral arterial disease, the specific use of MSOT for assessing gluteal muscle perfusion in this context is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with gluteal claudication in Fontaine stage II and corresponding stenosis (common iliac artery, internal iliac artery or distal aorta)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with PAD in Fontaine stage I, III and IV or Rutherford category 0, 4, 5 and 6 or healthy volunteers with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, claudication symptoms, abnormal ABI or non-palpable foot pulses
* People with age under 18
* Absence of written consent
* Safety concerns of the study physician (person with physical, mental or psychiatric conditions which, by the judgement of the study physician, would compromise the person's safety or the quality of the data, thereby rendering the person an ineligible candidate for the study

Where this trial is running

Erlangen, Bavaria

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Peripheral Vascular DiseasesPeripheral Arterial DiseaseIntermittent ClaudicationGluteal ClaudicationPeripheral Artery DiseasePADGluteal claudicationButtock claudication
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.