Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac arteries: intravenous digital subtraction angiography for follow-up.

A group of 25 patients who had suspected aortoiliac disease was screened using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and conventional catheter arteriography with an overall accuracy of 88% for DSA. A second group of 50 consecutive patients who had undergone iliac angioplasty at least two years previously was examined with DSA, and a satisfactory examination was obtained in 94% of the cases; 89% of the angioplasty sites remained free of significant stenotic disease without evidence of complications related to angioplasty. We compared findings of DSA of the aortoiliac segment with findings of Doppler examinations and found the procedures to be complementary. We conclude that DSA is a reliable method for follow-up of iliac angioplasty sites, and meets with considerable acceptance from patients.