Drug-coated Balloons – Potential Coronary Vascular Applications

• Published in: European Cardiology Review Vol. 7; no. 2; p. 122
• Main Authors: Scheller, Bruno, Cremers, Bodo, Schmitmeier, Stephanie, Schnorr, Beatrix, Clever, Yvonne, Speck, Ulrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• ISSN: 1758-3756
• DOI: 10.15420/ecr.2011.7.2.122

One of the most innovative fields in modern medical research is the percutaneous transluminal treatment of vascular disease. During the last few decades considerable advances have been made in intravascular interventions for the treatment of coronary and peripheral arterial disease. However, long-term outcome remains an area of concern in many applications. Restenosis is still a challenge in endovascular medicine and has thus been referred to as the Achilles’ heel of percutaneous intervention. Therefore, novel strategies have been developed to overcome this problem. These include drug-eluting stents and the more recently introduced non-stent-based local drug delivery systems, in particular the drug-coated balloon. The results of several pre-clinical and clinical studies indicate that short-term exposure of injured arteries to paclitaxel delivered from regular angioplasty balloons may be sufficient to reduce late lumen loss and restenosis rates during the critical period after angioplasty of diseased coronary and peripheral arteries. Although the number of published trials and patients treated is still limited, the available data seem to prove that restenosis inhibition by immediate drug release is feasible. This article reviews the potential applications of the drug-coated balloon in coronary vascular disease.