Association of Far-Infrared Radiation Therapy and Ankle-Brachial Index of Patients on Hemodialysis with Peripheral Artery Occlusive Disease

August 13, 2017

Abstract

Background and Aim

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is recognized to be a good marker for

atherosclerosis, and is useful in the diagnosis of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) which

is prevalent among patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Methods

This randomized trial aimed to evaluate the effect of far-infrared radiation (FIR) therapy on ABI in HD patients with PAOD. PAOD was defined as patients with ABI < 0.95. One hundred and eight HD patients were enrolled, including 50 in the control group and 58 in the FIR group. A WS TY101 FIR emitter was applied for 40 minutes during each HD session, three times per week for six months. The ABI was measured before and after the FIR therapy.

Results

Regardless of FIR therapy, the bilateral ABI decreased (in the FIR group, left: 0.88±0.22 to 0.85±0.24, p = 0.188; right: 0.92±0.20 to 0.90±0.23, p = 0.372; in control group, left: 0.91±0.23 to 0.88±0.21, p = 0144; right: 0.93±0.17 to 0.89±0.21, p = 0.082). Multivariate logistic analysis of the FIR group revealed that high uric acid (odds ratio [OR]: 2.335; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.117-4.882; p=0.024) and aspirin use (OR: 16.463; 95% CI: 1.787-151.638; p=0.013) were independently associated with increased bilateral ABI after FIR therapy.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that ABI is not increased after FIR therapy in HD patients with PAOD. However, in the FIR group, patients with higher uric acid level or those who used aspirin have increased bilateral ABI after FIR therapy.

-Int. J. Med. Sci. 2016, 13(12): 970-976

Want to know more?



Contact us for more detail


Learn more
Questions to FIRAPY
July 16, 2025
FIRAPY Medical Japan proudly participated in the 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) , held in Osaka from June 27 to 29, 2025 . This year marked a major milestone for FIRAPY in Japan: a total of 11 FIRAPY-related research presentations were featured during the congress—showcasing growing academic interest in far-infrared therapy as a supportive, non-invasive treatment in dialysis care. represents a significant milestone in FIRAPY’s ongoing academic engagement in dialysis-related research.
FIRAPY collaborates with Taipei Veterans General Hospital in research on non-invasive therapies for
July 2, 2025
FIRAPY and Taipei Veterans General Hospital co-published a study in JFMA showing improved cardiovascular and infection outcomes in peritoneal dialysis patients using far-infrared therapy.
More Posts