Drug-Coated Balloons Applications in Interventional Cardiology

Drug coated balloons (DCBs) are new on stented-based anti-proliferative drug delivery systems, recently introduced in interventional cardiology. Their primary aim is to transfer an anti-proliferative drug to reduce the subsequent neo-intima hyperplasia and to maintain the normal vessel diameter and function.

A review of the most recent influential studies about DCBs in all the fields of interventional cardiology has been performed.

As demonstrated by different studies, DCBs have different theoretical advantages over Drug Eluting Stents (DESs), especially for the treatment of some endovascular lesions, as In-Stent Restenosis (ISR), coronary bifurcations, small vessels disease and peripheral artery disease at femoropopliteal and below the knee sites.

Despite the need of further studies are needed to elucidate the optimal use of DCBs their current use in interventional cardiology appears promising.