Ankle-arm index, angiography, and duplex ultrasonography after recanalization of occlusions in femoropopliteal arteries: comparison of long-term results.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of the relative values of the ankle-arm index (AAI) at rest and after exercise, angiography, and duplex ultrasonography for the follow-up of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in patients with peripheral vascular disease.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients were prospectively followed after technically and clinically successful PTA of a femoropopliteal occlusion. The patency of the femoropopliteal artery was assessed for 1 year using AAI measurements at rest and after exercise; duplex ultrasonography at 4, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks; and angiography at 3 and 12 months after PTA.


RESULTS
Patency was highly dependent on the measurement technique. The cumulative patency after 1 year determined with the AAI at rest and during exercise, by angiography, and by duplex ultrasonography was 74%, 19%, 31%, and 32%, respectively. Seventy-five percent of the restenoses occurred at the site of the treated occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Duplex ultrasonography is most suitable for this assessment, as it causes no patient discomfort and the specificity is better than AAI after exercise because vascular disease in other, proximal segments does not interfere with the results.
Winter-Warnars
H A
HA
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, NL-3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Graaf
Y
Y
Mali WPTM
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology