Paclitaxel coated balloons, the time for awareness has come.
Over the last decade, a myriad of small clinical studies using a wide variety drug coated balloons (DCB) has shown the potential efficacy profile of this technology in specific clinical settings, especially coronary in-stent restenosis and peripheral artery disease. However, also due to the negative results of some small clinical studies, a big sense of confusion and uncertainty still exists among device developers and clinicians on current DCB indications. The advantages of DCB consist in non-polymeric delivery of anti-proliferative drugs limited to the time of the highest activity of the neointimal restenotic process after vessel injury, maintenance of vessel anatomy and potential to decrease delayed healing. Moreover, this field is rapidly evolving and includes lower-dose formulations, dedicated drug delivery reservoirs and alternative drugs. As these technologies emerge, we hope that some of the lessons learned will bring to proper validation strategies and solid experimental and clinical experimentations.
Bernardo
B
Cortese
Gregory A
GA
Sgueglia
Juan F
JF
Granada
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004343:Drug Implants; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004343:Drug Implants; D017239:Paclitaxel