Very Late Coronary Thrombosis After Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment: An Old Problem With a New Therapy

Guillermo de Jesus Velazquez Gutierrez1, Giovanni Occhipinti1, Manel Sabaté Tenas2

  • 1Hospital Clinic, Cardiovascular Clinic Institute, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

JACC. Case Reports
|August 1, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) show poor long-term outcomes in coronary interventions. This case highlights a rare but serious risk of very late thrombosis after DCB treatment for de novo lesions.

Area of Science:

  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Evidence for drug-coated balloons (DCBs) as an alternative to drug-eluting stents in coronary de novo lesions is limited.
  • Long-term outcomes following DCB use in coronary percutaneous intervention require further investigation.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 72-year-old male experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
  • The infarction was caused by very late stent thrombosis in a lesion previously treated with a DCB for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Findings:

  • Despite the theoretical advantage of leaving no permanent implant, very late thrombosis occurred after DCB treatment.
  • This suggests that DCBs may not be free from long-term complications.

Implications:

  • Very late thrombosis following DCB use in de novo coronary lesions is a potential complication.
  • This complication can have significant clinical consequences, particularly in large coronary vessels.
Abstract

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