Reduction of venous thrombosis complicating phlebography

Patients who underwent radiographic phlebography were studied to determine the frequency of postphlebographic venous thrombosis. In a group of 23 patients who had negative phlebograms performed with standard contrast agent (60% sodium methylglucamine diatrizoate), nine had positive 125I-fibrinogen leg scans. On repeat phlebography, three had confirmed deep vein thrombosis, six overall developed deep or superficial thrombosis, and three had positive scans without demonstrable thrombi. In a second group of 34 patients studied with the contrast material diluted to 45%, only three developed positive scans, one due to deep venous thrombosis and two to superficial thrombosis. There was also a reduction in the incidence of postphlebographic symptoms of pain, tenderness, and erythema, but no apparent sacrifice in diagnostic accuracy.