Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of iliac arteries: the importance of functional studies

Results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of 60 iliac arteries are presented, with a follow-up of 3 to 12 months. The patency rate at 1 year was 95% using the thigh-brachial index as the criterion and 86% with the ankle-brachial index. Study of the patients with an exercise test component improved the sensitivity of the evaluation, demonstrating that both indices tend to underestimate the functional improvement. The authors propose a simple, cost-effective way for practitioners to follow-up their patients after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.