title: Intravascular brachytherapy: a systematic review of its role in reducing restenosis after endovascular treatment in peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) utilises the percutaneous insertion of a radioactive source to inhibit myointimal hyperplasia in arteries treated by balloon angioplasty or stenting. A systematic review was performed of trials of IVBT in patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Search strategy - the reviewers searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group trials register, DARE, CCT and NHS EED for clinical studies and trials of adjuvant IVBT in PAD. Two reviewers assessed trial quality independently.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen clinical trials were identified by the search, representing five clinical studies (all allocated D for not randomised) and one randomised controlled trial (allocated A). The randomised trial showed a benefit for IVBT compared with placebo (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.53). In the non-randomised studies, 12 month cumulative patency rates ranged from 60-87%. There were few technical complications. In the only report involving IVBT and routine concurrent stent insertion acute thrombosis occurred in 7 (21%) of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early reports have confirmed the safety and technical feasibility of IVBT. However, follow-up is too short at present to assess the durability and long-term complications of this new therapeutic option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansrani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overbeck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smout
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stansby
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology