Drug-coated balloons for coronary and peripheral interventional procedures

Paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty reduces neointimal proliferation, restenosis, and clinical need for target lesion revascularization (TLR). PCB was superior for coronary restenosis in bare-metal and drug-eluting stents compared with uncoated balloon angioplasty and was noninferior compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents. PCB angioplasty should be considered for treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis. For de novo lesions, PCB plus endothelial progenitor cell capturing stents reduced restenosis and TLR in early reports. Among patients with de novo lesions and diabetes, the combination of PCB plus bare-metal stent revealed similar results in lesions compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents. The early results for PCB in small vessels are also very encouraging. Dual antiplatelet therapy duration may be shorter with PCB angioplasty compared with drug-eluting stents. Nevertheless, the risk for thrombotic vessel occlusion is minimized. Considering peripheral arterial disease, PCB angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions was superior to uncoated balloon angioplasty. Registries indicate PCB to also be effective in lesions below the knee. Since there is no certain class effect, efficacy and safety have to be demonstrated for different types of PCB for coronary and peripheral interventions.