Two-year results of a low-dose drug-coated balloon for revascularization of the femoropopliteal artery: outcomes from the ILLUMENATE first-in-human study

Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Vessel Preparation Techniques With Plain Balloon Angioplasty, Atherectomy, or Intravascular Lithotripsy Before Application of a Drug Coated Balloon to Treat Atherosclerotic Femoropopliteal Disease

OBJECTIVE

To compare one year outcomes after atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy vs. plain balloon angioplasty before application of drug coated balloons for treating femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were screened until May 2023 for randomised controlled trials.

REVIEW METHODS

This was a systematic review and network meta-analysis. The inclusion criteria were patients with claudication and those with critical limb threatening ischaemia with lesion characteristics of all lengths, stenosis, calcification, and occlusions. The primary outcome was freedom from target lesion re-intervention at one year. Secondary outcomes were rate of bailout stenting, major amputation, and all cause mortality at one year. Pooled point estimates were calculated with a standard random effects model. Further sensitivity analyses were completed with a mixed treatment Bayesian model. Risk of bias was assessed by the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2 (RoB2) and certainty of evidence assessed via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.

RESULTS

Four RCTs comprising 549 patients (two studies evaluating directional atherectomy, one evaluating rotational atherectomy, one evaluating intravascular lithotripsy against plain balloon angioplasty) were included. The weighted mean length of femoropopliteal lesions was 103.4 ± 6.67 mm. Results of the mixed treatment Bayesian analysis were consistent with pooled analysis for all outcomes. There were no significant differences in freedom from target lesion revascularisation (GRADE, high) (RoB2, low), major amputation (GRADE, low), or mortality (GRADE, moderate). Bailout stenting rates were significantly reduced with intravascular lithotripsy and atherectomy compared with plain balloon angioplasty (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07 - 0.89) (GRADE, moderate) (RoB2, low).

CONCLUSION

This review found that intravascular lithotripsy or atherectomy did not appear to incur a statistically significant advantage in freedom from target lesion revascularisation, major amputation, or mortality rate at one year. There was moderate certainty of evidence that bailout stenting is significantly reduced after vessel preparation with intravascular lithotripsy and atherectomy.

Head-to-Head Comparison of 2 Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons for Femoropopliteal Lesions

BACKGROUND

There is a scarcity of published head-to-head comparisons between different paclitaxel-coated angioplasty balloons. More prospective safety data to support the health care economic reimbursement processes are needed.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to report the safety and efficacy of the Passeo-18 Lux drug-coated balloon (DCB) (Biotronik AG) for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral artery disease caused by stenosis, restenosis, or occlusion of the femoral and/or popliteal arteries.

METHODS

A total of 302 patients were randomized 1:1 and assigned to the Passeo-18 Lux DCB (study device) group or the IN.PACT Admiral DCB (control device, Medtronic Vascular) group for testing of noninferiority. The primary efficacy endpoint was freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization at 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of freedom from device-/procedure-related death through 30 days postindex procedure, major target limb amputation, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months.

RESULTS

At 12 months, 130 of 134 patients in the IN.PACT Admiral group had freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (97.0%) compared with 137 of 141 patients in the Passeo-18 Lux group (97.2%). The primary safety endpoint showed 96.3% in the control group vs 95.7% in the study device group. The null hypothesis of inferiority on both efficacy and safety was rejected. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of primary patency at 1 year was 88.7% in the control arm vs 91.5% in the study device arm.

CONCLUSIONS

The Passeo-18 Lux and the IN.PACT Admiral DCBs demonstrate comparable results with excellent effectiveness and safety through 12 months for femoropopliteal interventions.

Editor's Choice - RANDOMisation Screening for Drug coated or Drug Eluting Device Randomised Trials Among Patients Undergoing Endovascular FemorOPopliteal Procedures (RANDOM-STOP study)

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to assess the proportion of patients undergoing endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal arterial disease (FP) who would be eligible to take part in seven major randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the efficacy of some of the currently available paclitaxel based (PTX) devices used in this clinical context. Various RCTs have shown a potential clinical benefit from the use of paclitaxel in FP endovascular therapy. Nonetheless, patients enrolled were highly selected and the generalisability of these findings in pragmatic cohorts is unclear.

METHODS

Between 1 January and 31 December 2021, all consecutive patients who underwent endovascular procedures for symptomatic FP disease in 16 European centres were retrospectively screened and included in this analysis. The primary outcome measure was individual patient eligibility for inclusion into at least one of the seven RCTs. The reasons for exclusion (clinical and or radiological) as well as in hospital death and morbidity were also reported.

RESULTS

A total of 1 567 consecutive patients (959 male, 61%), corresponding to 1 567 lower limbs, were included. Most patients (1 009 patients, 64.39%) were treated for chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI). A total 1 280 patients (81.68%) were not eligible for inclusion in any of the evaluated RCTs. Of them, 741 (47.28%) were excluded for clinical and 1 125 (71.79%) for radiological reasons.

CONCLUSION

The analysed RCTs assessing the efficacy or effectiveness of PTX based endovascular therapies do not seem representative of the patient population with FP disease receiving endovascular therapy in routine clinical practice.

Clinical investigation of the GORE Drug-Coated PTA Balloon Catheter for CE Mark Approval

OBJECTIVES

Paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty has been established as the first-line therapy of femoropopliteal artery disease. The primary objectives of the study were to evaluate the performance and the safety of the GORE-DCB Catheter in the treatment of atherosclerotic femoropopliteal lesions of patients with peripheral artery disease for CE-Mark approval.

METHODS

Prospective, single-arm, multicenter study with 24 months follow-up. The GORE-DCB Catheter consists of a drug-coated nylon (inner layer)/ePTFE (outer layer) composite balloon. The ePTFE layer is coated with paclitaxel (concentration: 3.5μg/mm²), and the excipients stearic acid/tromethamine (tris). The primary endpoints were 6-month late lumen loss (LLL) and 30-day of freedom from Major Adverse Events (MAE).

RESULTS

Fifty-two subjects were enrolled, 69% men, median age 69 (49-83) years. Acute device success was 100%, the 30-day MAE rate was zero. Study primary endpoint of LLL (-0.17 mm) showed significant superiority compared to the performance goal of uncoated PTA balloon catheters from literature. At 1 and 2 years primary patency rates were 81.8% and 68.7%, respectively, and freedom from clinical driven target lesion revascularization rates were 87.9% and 83.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that the treatment of lesions in femoropopliteal arteries with the GORE-DCB Catheter is safe and effective.

Jetstream Atherectomy with Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons: Two-Year Outcome of the Prospective Randomized JET-RANGER Study

Background

The JET-RANGER study (NCT03206762) was a multicenter (11 US centers) randomized trial, core lab adjudicated, designed to demonstrate the superiority of Jetstream + Paclitaxel coated balloon (JET+PCB) versus angioplasty (PTA) + PCB in treating femoropopliteal (FP) arterial disease. The one-year primary endpoint of JET-RANGER has been recently published. The 2-year outcome data are presented in this report.

Methods

There were 43 patients who completed the 1-year follow-up. Two were lost to follow-up and one died prior to the 2-year follow-up, resulting in 40 patients. Fifteen patients were randomized to PTA+PCB and 25 patients to JET +PCB. Kaplan Meier Survival analysis was performed to estimate the freedom from TLR. Bailout stenting was not considered a TLR in this analysis. Statistical significance was determined by a p-value < 0.05.

Results

Freedom from TLR was similar between the 2 groups at 2 years. There was also no significant difference in the change of ABI between the PTA + PCB and JET + PCB from baseline at 6-months, (p-value = 0.7890), 1-year (p-value = 0.4070), and 2-year (p-value=0.7410). There was also no statistical difference between the JET + PCB and PTA + PCB arms for RCC improvement by one or more category, (p-value= 1.000). There were no minor or major amputations for either arm throughout the 2-year follow up. One JET + PCB patient died before the 2-year specified window.

Conclusion

JET + PCB had similar freedom from TLR and improvement in ABI and RCC at 2-year follow-up when compared to PTA + PCB with no difference in amputation or mortality between the 2 arms.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT03206762.

Methodology of the BIOPACT RCT, a Multi-center, Randomized, Non-inferiority Trial Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Passeo-18 Lux Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) of Biotronik Compared to the Medtronic IN.PACT Admiral DCB in the Treatment of Subjects with Lesions of the Femoropopliteal Artery

PURPOSE

Although effectiveness and safety of many different paclitaxel coated balloons in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are extensively studied, there is a lack of direct head-to-head comparison studies. To meet this need and to avoid potential "class-effects", the BIOPACT was set up. The purpose is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Passeo-18 Lux DCB (Biotronik) for treatment of patients with symptomatic PAD due to femoropopliteal lesions.

METHODS

302 patients are randomized in a 1:1 manner to treatment with either the Passeo-18 Lux DCB or the IN.PACT Admiral DCB (Medtronic) for testing of a formal non-inferiority hypothesis. The participants will be followed for 5 years. The primary efficacy endpoint is freedom from clinically-driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) at 12 months, defined as any re-intervention at the target lesion due to symptoms, drop of ankle brachial index (ABI) > 20% or > 0.15 compared to post-procedural ABI. Primary safety endpoint is a composite of freedom from device/procedure-related death through 30 days post-index procedure, freedom from major target limb amputation and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization (CD-TVR) through 12 months post-index procedure. Secondary endpoints can be found at clinicaltrials.gov, ID NCT03884257.

DISCUSSION

As full enrolment was reached by the beginning of September, the investigators expect complete analysis of the primary endpoints by the end of 2022; Meanwhile preliminary results will be disclosed during 2022. As in terms of randomized head-to-head efficacy and safety analysis, this study on paclitaxel coated balloons may provide additional information to clinicians and healthcare providers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03884257 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2, Randomized trial.

Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) versus plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) in the treatment of failing dialysis access: A prospective randomized trial

Objective

To compare the efficacy of angioplasty using drug-eluting balloons (DEB) compared with plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) to reduce the rate of restenosis.

Methods

This prospective, single-centre, single-blinded, 1:1 randomized, clinical trial enrolled patients that had primary or restenotic lesions in native upper extremity arteriovenous (AV) fistulas or at the graft-venous anastomosis. Patients were randomized to angioplasty with a POBA or a DEB. The primary effectiveness endpoints were freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) and functional status of access circuit at 12 months.

Results

A total of 42 (28 male, 14 female; age range, 42–83 years) patients were enrolled. Patients were followed for 12 months. No significant differences were detected between the POBA and DEB groups regarding total number of TLR procedures (31 versus 36, respectively), freedom from TLR (3 versus 4, respectively) and functional status of the access circuit at 12 months (14 of 20 patients [70%] versus 17 of 22 patients [77%], respectively).

Conclusion

This clinical trial did not demonstrate any significant differences between DEB angioplasty and standard balloon angioplasty when treating dysfunctional haemodialysis access.

No Mortality Signal With Stellarex Low-Dose Paclitaxel DCB: ILLUMENATE Pivotal 4-Year Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Paclitaxel-coated balloons have shown safety and efficacy in the short- to intermediate-term; however, long-term data remain limited.

OBJECTIVES

To report late safety and efficacy outcomes for a low-dose paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) compared with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in femoropopliteal lesions from a large randomized controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS

ILLUMENATE Pivotal is a multicenter, single-blind RCT conducted across 43 US and EU centers to examine the safety and efficacy of the Stellarex DCB for the treatment of femoropopliteal disease. Assessments were recorded for all active patients at 36 and 48 months. Vital status of patients formally exited from the study was also collected.

RESULTS

Primary patency through 36 months for patients treated with DCB was significantly higher compared with PTA (p=0.016). The primary safety endpoint through 36 months was 77.4% and 72.4%, respectively (p=0.377). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that a higher proportion of DCB subjects were event-free compared with PTA at all study visits. The rate of major adverse event (MAE) through 48 months was 32.9% in the DCB group and 37.9% in the PTA group (p=0.428). No differences in the rate of mortality were evident through 48 months of follow-up with 15.6% in the DCB group and 15.2% in the PTA group (p=0.929).

CONCLUSIONS

Stellarex DCB was associated with significantly higher patency compared with PTA through 3 years with no mortality difference detected through 4 years. The data from the ILLUMENATE Pivotal RCT support the long-term safety and efficacy of the low-dose Stellarex DCB.

Mid-term Efficacy and Safety of Drug-coated Balloon versus Nitinol Bare Metal Stent for Primary Lesions in Femoropopliteal Artery Disease

OBJECTIVES

To compare drug-coated balloon (DCB) and bare metal stent (BMS) for primary lesions in femoropopliteal artery disease in Chinese population and to make subgroup analysis between the groups.

METHODS

Patients with primary lesions who underwent BMS or DCB treatment of a single tertiary vascular center were included and followed up for 24 months. Clinical and anatomic status were reported using the criteria recommended by the Society for Vascular Surgery. The primary endpoint included primary patency, clinically target limb revascularization, composite safety endpoint and all-cause death over 24 months assessed by Kaplan-Meier. Secondary endpoints included technical success rate and stent-related complications.

RESULTS

A total of 284 patients with 324 limbs were pooled into analysis and most of the baseline characteristics did not show significant difference. A total of 74 in BMS group and 71 in DCB group were claudicants while 83 in BMS group and 56 in DCB group suffered from chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). The mean cumulative lesion length was 18.7 ± 9.8cm in BMS group while 17.2 ± 10.3cm in DCB group. Kaplan-Meier estimates of primary patency were 75.3% and 80.9% for BMS and DCB groups at 12 months while decreased to 63.9% and 70.2% at 24 months (log-rank P = 0.167), respectively. Freedom from clinically driven target limb revascularization was 86.8% and 92.7% for BMS and DCB groups at 12 months while dropped to 82.5% and 85.9% at 24 months (log-rank P = 0.342). Estimates of primary patency between BMS and DCB group did not show significant difference on lesions with poor runoff (58.8% vs. 67.3%, log-rank P = 0.127), severe calcification (64.5% vs. 69.4%, log-rank P = 0.525) and popliteal artery involvement (59.3% vs. 60.3%, log-rank P = 0.695) at 24 months. The overall survival (92.6% for BMS, 90.3% for DCB, log-rank P = 0.391) and freedom from composite safety endpoint (79.3% for BMS, 79.2% for DCB, log-rank P = 0.941) showed no significant difference at 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the 24 month follow-up, BMS and DCB showed equivalent efficacy and safety outcomes for primary femoropopliteal artery disease, which indicated the reduction of permanent metallic implant insertion might be possible.

Four-Year Patient-Level Pooled Mortality Analysis of the ILLUMENATE US Pivotal and EU Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

To perform a meta-analysis of two concordant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the long-term, four-year safety profile of the Stellarex drug-coated balloon (DCB) versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

METHODS

An independent, third-party, meta-analysis of homogenous, patient-level data from the ILLUMENATE Pivotal and ILLUMENATE EU RCTs was performed to assess mortality (time to death) in patients treated for symptomatic femoropopliteal disease. Kaplan Meier (KM) methodology was used to estimate hazard rates of all-cause mortality and Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to assess predictors of mortality. All serious adverse events, including deaths, were adjudicated by an independent, blinded clinical events committee (CEC).

RESULTS

In total, 589 (419 DCB; 170 PTA) patients were included in the pooled analysis of the ILLUMENATE Pivotal and ILLUMENATE EU RCTs. The median follow-up was 1735 days (IQR 1434-1829), equivalent to 4.75 years. Vital status compliance was >95% in each RCT. The total number of deaths through four years was 81/589 (13.8%); 58/419 (13.8%) in the DCB arm and 23/170 (13.5%) in the PTA arm. The one-year KM estimate of all-cause mortality was 1.9% ± 0.7% (estimate ± SE) in those treated with DCB versus 1.2 ± 0.9% in those treated with PTA. At two, three, and four years, the respective KM estimates were 6.6 ± 1.2% versus 4.9 ± 1.7%, 9.3 ± 1.4% versus 9.9 ± 2.4%, and 14.0% ± 1.7% versus 14.4% ± 2.8% (P = 0.864). There were no significant differences in CEC-adjudicated deaths between the two cohorts. In multivariate analysis, predictors of four-year mortality were age (HR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.026 - 1.071; P < 0.0001), renal insufficiency (HR, 2.440; 95% CI, 1.566 - 3.800; P < 0.0001), and lesion length (HR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.000 - 1.008; P = 0.041). Neither paclitaxel exposure (DCB versus PTA; HR, 1.086; 95% CI, 0.709 - 1.664; P = 0.705) nor dose (mg; HR, 1.043; 95% CI, 0.971 - 1.119; P = 0.248) were predictors of all-cause mortality at four years.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic meta-analysis of two concordant ILLUMENATE RCTs shows no difference in all-cause mortality through four-years between Stellarex DCB and PTA, confirming the acceptable, long-term safety profile of the Stellarex DCB.

An Update on Drug-eluting Technology in Peripheral Arteries to Treat Peripheral Arterial Disease

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Drug-Eluting Stents and Balloons-Materials, Structure Designs, and Coating Techniques: A Review

Controlled drug delivery is a matter of interest to numerous scientists from various domains, as well as an essential issue for society as a whole. In the treatment of many diseases, it is crucial to control the dosing of a drug for a long time and thus maintain its optimal concentration in the tissue. Heart diseases are particularly important in this aspect. One such disease is an obstructive arterial disease affecting millions of people around the world. In recent years, stents and balloon catheters have reached a significant position in the treatment of this condition. Balloon catheters are also successfully used to manage tear ducts, paranasal sinuses, or salivary glands disorders. Modern technology is continually striving to improve the results of previous generations of stents and balloon catheters by refining their design, structure, and constituent materials. These advances result in the development of both successive models of drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-eluting balloons (DEB). This paper presents milestones in the development of DES and DEB, which are a significant option in the treatment of coronary artery diseases. This report reviews the works related to achievements in construction designs and materials, as well as preparation technologies, of DES and DEB. Special attention was paid to the polymeric biodegradable materials used in the production of the above-mentioned devices. Information was also collected on the various methods of producing drug release coatings and their effectiveness in releasing the active substance.

Comparison of Effectiveness of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty versus Plain Balloon Angioplasty in Chronic Lower Extremity Ischemia Patients

Background

Occlusive lesions of superficial femoral artery (SFA) in endovascular candidate patients are treated with balloon angioplasty with or without stenting. Recently, introduction of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty as a superior treatment option to plain balloon (PB) has been challenging.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of DCB versus PB angioplasty in chronic lower extremity ischemia patients.

Patients and Methods

In this clinical trial, 2 groups were matched at baseline; among 68 patients with peripheral artery disease, 23 patients were treated by DCB and 45 by PB. They were followed up for 6 months. Our findings of ABI, Rutherford and WIFI class changes, mortality, limb amputation, re-intervention and primary patency (PP) were collected and analyzed in comparative fashion between 2 groups.

Results

Mean patients age was 68.5 years (77.9% male). At 6 months, the increase in ABI in DCB was 0.37 and in PB was 0.32 (P>0.05). Mean decrease in Rutherford class in DCB and PB were 2.56, 2.28 (P>0.05). Mean decrease in WIFI class in DCB and PB were 1.48, 1.11 (P>0.05). In DCB group, 1 (4.3%) limb amputation, 3 (13%) re-interventions and no mortality with 87% PP were seen. In PB group, 2 (4.4%) limb amputation, 7 (15.6%) re-interventions, 1 (2.2%) mortality with 84.4% PP were seen.

Conclusion

Treatment of occlusive lesions of SFA with DCB probably may leads to improvement in ABI, Rutherford and WIFI class, higher pp and lower rate of re-interventions. Since Rutherford class and pp in DCB group have improved during 6 months compared to 1 month follow up (in our study), this improvement seems to be more significant statistically in longer term of follow up.

Stellarex drug-coated balloon: a technology evaluation

The Stellarex® drug-coated balloon (DCB) is an over-the-wire dual lumen catheter with a distally premounted semi-compliant balloon, which has a low dose (2 μg/mm² of the expanded balloon surface) paclitaxel coating. Its hybrid formulation, made of amorphous and crystalline paclitaxel combined with a polyethylene glycol excipient, provides maintenance of coating integrity and adequate drug release. This balanced combination of amorphous and crystalline paclitaxel is able to maintain drug on the surface during handling and balloon tracking, with an effective drug transfer to vessel wall in the lesion site. Clinical data associated with Stellarex balloon are growing and confirm clinical effectiveness over a long-term follow-up without any possible signal of a reduced safety for treated patients.

Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: The Chronic Total Occlusion Cohort in the IN.PACT Global Study

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the 12-month safety and effectiveness of a paclitaxel drug-coated balloon for treatment of intermittent claudication or rest pain in subjects with femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions (CTO).

BACKGROUND

CTOs are difficult to treat, and the optimal intervention remains to be determined.

METHODS

The IN.PACT Global Study is an international single-arm study that enrolled 1,535 patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal artery disease. The study contains prospectively defined cohorts with prospectively planned imaging analyses, including a CTO (≥5 cm) cohort in which subjects underwent duplex ultrasonography analyzed by an independent core laboratory. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of freedom from device- and procedure-related mortality through 30 days, and freedom from major target limb amputation and target vessel revascularization through 12 months. An independent Clinical Events Committee adjudicated all adverse events. The primary effectiveness endpoint was primary patency at 12 months, defined as freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization and freedom from restenosis.

RESULTS

The CTO imaging cohort had 126 subjects with 127 lesions (mean lesion length 22.83 ± 9.76 cm). Primary patency by Kaplan-Meier estimate was 85.3% through 12 months. Provisional stenting was performed in 46.8% of lesions. The primary safety composite endpoint was achieved by 88.7% of subjects. There were no device- or procedure-related deaths through 30 days or major target limb amputations through 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The paclitaxel drug-coated balloon was safe and highly effective at 12 months after treatment of subjects with CTO ≥5 cm in the femoropopliteal arteries. (IN.PACT Global Clinical Study; NCT01609296).

One-year outcome of the paclitaxel-eluting Legflow balloon catheter in the treatment of long and complex femoropopliteal lesions

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the paclitaxel-eluting Legflow balloon catheter in the treatment of "real-world" long and complex femoropopliteal lesions.

METHODS

The REFLOW study was a prospective, multi-national, non-randomized, single arm study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Legflow paclitaxel-eluting balloon dilatation catheter in the treatment of stenotic or occlusive lesions >150 mm long in the femoropopliteal arteries of symptomatic patients (Rutherford 2-5). A total of 120 study subjects were enrolled in a period of 30 months, between October 2015 and May 2018. The mean age was 71.1 years and 79 patients were men (65.8%). Mean lesion length was 216.1 mm. 45.0% of the lesions were occluded, whereas 55.0% were stenotic. Primary endpoint was primary patency at 12 months, defined as absence of a hemodynamically significant stenosis on duplex ultrasound (systolic velocity ratio no greater than 2.4) at the target lesion and without TLR within 12 months.

RESULTS

Technical and procedural success (<30.0% residual angiographic stenosis without major complications) was achieved in all 120 cases (100.0%). Primary patency was 84.6% at 6 months and 71.1% at 1 year. Freedom from TLR was 79.9% at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

If longer term follow-up confirms there is no safety-concern on these paclitaxel device, the excellent results of the newer drug-eluting devices, and the Legflow paclitaxel-eluting balloon in particular, is a valid and effective alternative to treat long and complex "real-world" femoropopliteal lesions.

Efficacy and safety of a novel paclitaxel-nano-coated balloon for femoropopliteal angioplasty: one-year results of the EffPac trial

AIMS

Although paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty is an established endovascular treatment for peripheral artery disease, restenosis remains a major concern. Thus, we compared a novel paclitaxel-coated DCB with nano-coating technology with uncoated plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This multicentre trial randomly assigned 171 patients with stenotic and occlusive lesions of the femoropopliteal artery to angioplasty with a novel DCB or uncoated POBA. The primary endpoint, late lumen loss at six months, was 0.92 mm lower in the DCB group (95% CI: -1.36 to -0.49 mm, p<0.001). Patients showed improved walking after DCB treatment at six months (p=0.021). In the DCB group, 44.6% and 50% of the patients improved by three Rutherford-Becker classification stages after six to 12 months, respectively (POBA: 27.8% and 36.8%, respectively). Only one patient needed TLR (1.3%) in the DCB group, compared to 14 patients (18.7%) in the POBA group after 12 months (relative risk [RR]=0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.53, p<0.001). Primary patency was 90.3% (DCB group) versus 65.3% (POBA group) after 12 months (RR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.14-1.67, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The novel DCB was effective and safe for inhibiting restenosis. Moreover, it demonstrated a better improvement in walking than POBA and showed no mortality concerns due to paclitaxel application after 12 months. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT02540018

Pre-Clinical Investigation of Keratose as an Excipient of Drug Coated Balloons

BACKGROUND

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs), which deliver anti-proliferative drugs with the aid of excipients, have emerged as a new endovascular therapy for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease. In this study, we evaluated the use of keratose (KOS) as a novel DCB-coating excipient to deliver and retain paclitaxel.

METHODS

A custom coating method was developed to deposit KOS and paclitaxel on uncoated angioplasty balloons. The retention of the KOS-paclitaxel coating, in comparison to a commercially available DCB, was evaluated using a novel vascular-motion simulating ex vivo flow model at 1 h and 3 days. Additionally, the locoregional biological response of the KOS-paclitaxel coating was evaluated in a rabbit ilio-femoral injury model at 14 days.

RESULTS

The KOS coating exhibited greater retention of the paclitaxel at 3 days under pulsatile conditions with vascular motion as compared to the commercially available DCB (14.89 ± 4.12 ng/mg vs. 0.60 ± 0.26 ng/mg, p = 0.018). Histological analysis of the KOS-paclitaxel-treated arteries demonstrated a significant reduction in neointimal thickness as compared to the uncoated balloons, KOS-only balloon and paclitaxel-only balloon.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to enhance drug delivery and retention in targeted arterial segments can ultimately improve clinical peripheral endovascular outcomes.

One-year results of drug-coated balloons for long and occlusive Femoropopliteal artery disease: a single-arm trial

Background

The performance of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) in femoropopliteal interventions has been proven through randomized trials in short lesions and lesions with relatively low proportion of occlusions. There is limited evidence of DCBs in long or occlusive lesions. This study is to investigate the efficacy of the paclitaxel-coated balloon for treatment of long and occlusive femoropopliteal arterial lesions.

Methods

A single-arm trial including 44 femoropopliteal lesions (chronic total occlusion (CTO) plus > 10 cm) treated with DCBs was performed to collect data of average 1-year follow-up. Endpoints contain primary patency, target lesion revascularization (TLR), amelioration of the Rutherford classification, change of ankle brachial index (ABI) and major adverse events.

Results

Technical success is 97.7% while device success is 100%. Mean lesion length was 186 ± 86.3 cm. Stent implantation was performed in 13.6%. Cumulative probability of primary patency was 78.8% ± 6.8% at 1 year while that of freedom from TLR was 91.4% ± 4.9%. Rutherford classification improved from average 3.3 ± 1.0 to 2.1 ± 1.4 (p < 0.001) at follow-up with a 72.7% amelioration rate. Ankle-branchial index changed from 0.33 ± 0.40 to 0.67 ± 0.37 (p = 0.002). No major adverse event was observed.

Conclusion

These results suggest that it is safe and effective to treat long and totally occlusive femoropopliteal artery disease with DCBs. Further studies are demanded to confirm these results.

Sustainable Antirestenosis Effect With a Low-Dose Drug-Coated Balloon: The ILLUMENATE European Randomized Clinical Trial 2-Year Results

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation low-dose drug-coated balloon (DCB) designed to optimize the amount of drug transferred into the vessel wall and to maximize the amount of time the drug resides in the vessel wall.

BACKGROUND

Several randomized controlled studies evaluating various DCBs have demonstrated a significantly higher patency rate compared with noncoated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloons at 1 year. However, the data are limited and vary by DCB at longer follow-up time points. An earlier generation low-dose DCB failed to demonstrate significant treatment effect at 2 years, raising questions regarding the durability of low-dose DCBs.

METHODS

In this prospective, multicenter trial, 294 patients were randomized (3:1) to treatment with a DCB or an uncoated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon. Assessments at 2 years included primary patency with duplex ultrasonography, clinically driven target lesion revascularization, and functional outcomes.

RESULTS

Primary patency at 2 years was significantly higher in the DCB cohort (75.9% vs. 61.0%; p = 0.025), and the rate of clinically driven target lesion revascularization was significantly lower (12.1% vs. 30.5%; p < 0.001). There were no major limb amputations in either group. The rates of all-cause (6.5% vs. 5.1%; p = 1.00) and cardiovascular-related (1.6% vs. 1.7%; p = 1.00) mortality were similar between groups. Functional improvements over baseline were sustained in both groups, with 60% fewer reinterventions in the DCB group.

CONCLUSIONS

A sustained treatment effect is achievable with a low-dose DCB with an optimized coating formulation. This trial demonstrated for the first time a statistically significantly higher primary patency rate for a low-dose DCB versus PTA at 2 years. (CVI Drug Coated Balloon European Randomized Clinical Trial; NCT01858363).

Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment of Femoropopliteal Lesions for Patients With Intermittent Claudication and Ischemic Rest Pain: 2-Year Results From the IN.PACT Global Study

OBJECTIVES

The IN.PACT Global Study is the largest prospective, multicenter, independently adjudicated trial to evaluate a paclitaxel drug-coated balloon in patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication and/or ischemic rest pain due to atherosclerotic disease of the femoropopliteal artery and includes complex lesions beyond what are typically included in randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of drug-coated balloons for the treatment of Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document II A and B lesions, but there is a need for large-scale prospective studies to evaluate a broader range of lesions.

METHODS

The IN.PACT Global Study enrolled 1,535 subjects, and 1,406 (1,773 lesions) were included in the pre-defined clinical cohort analysis. Freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization was evaluated at 24 months. The safety composite endpoint was freedom from device- and procedure-related death through 30 days and freedom from target limb major amputation and clinically driven target vessel revascularization within 24 months.

RESULTS

Mean lesion length was 12.1 cm, 35.5% were total occlusions, and 18.0% had in-stent restenosis. Freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization at 24 months was 83.3%, the composite safety endpoint was met in 81.7%, the 2-year all-cause mortality rate was 7.0%, and the major target limb amputation rate was 0.7%. Increased lesion length and the presence of de novo in-stent restenosis or coronary artery disease were associated with increased risk for clinically driven target lesion revascularization by 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This real-world study of femoropopliteal artery disease treatment with drug-coated balloons confirmed positive findings reported from more strictly designed randomized controlled trials and showed that outcomes are durable in this population up to 2 years after treatment. (IN.PACT Global Clinical Study; NCT01609296).

Newly approved devices for endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal disease: a review of clinical evidence

Introduction: Femoropopliteal lesions account for a significant proportion of endovascular interventions for peripheral artery disease. In this manuscript, we review the literature on the application of newly approved devices in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions at this segment.Areas covered: New drug-coating technologies provide sustained drug-eluting over time and better scaffolds are more resistant to the increased biomechanical stress at the femoropopliteal segment. Thus, the newer drug-eluting stents (i.e. Eluvia®), nitinol interwoven stents (i.e. Supera®), and drug-coated balloons (i.e. Stellarex®) are associated with improved pharmacokinetic profiles and promising primary patency rates. A major predictor of technical failure and restenosis is the calcification of the target vessel. Recently, intravascular lithotripsy of calcified lesions at the femoropopliteal segment with the Shockwave® balloon was introduced as a feasible treatment option for these complex lesions. Finally, we also describe the Tack Endovascular System®, the first-of-its-type, for the repair of post-angioplasty dissections.Expert opinion: The use of innovative stent designs and novel drug-coating, the application of adjunctive intravascular lithotripsy, and the combined use of new devices treating complications might improve the overall outcomes of angioplasty, thereby promising favorable outcomes even for more complex lesions.

Mortality Assessment of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons: Patient-Level Meta-Analysis of the ILLUMENATE Clinical Program at 3 Years

BACKGROUND

A recent summary-level meta-analysis comprising randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of femoropopliteal paclitaxel-coated balloon and stent intervention identified excess late mortality in the paclitaxel-treated patients.

METHODS

We evaluated the safety of the Stellarex drug-coated balloon (DCB) for femoropopliteal artery disease with an independently performed meta-analysis of patient-level data from all patients in the Stellarex femoropopliteal clinical program. To compare mortality after DCB or uncoated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), we aggregated data from 2 RCTs comprising 419 patients treated with DCB and 170 patients treated with PTA. In an additional analysis, data were aggregated from 6 poolable Stellarex DCB studies (2 RCTs, 3 single-arm studies, and 1 registry). All serious adverse events including deaths were adjudicated by a blinded, third-party, independent Clinical Events Committee. Kaplan-Meier estimates in the RCTs were compared with restricted mean survival time. Predictors of death were assessed with hazard ratios (HRs) and Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar in the patients treated with DCB and PTA in the pooled RCT analysis, with the exception that the DCB cohort was younger (67.4±9.7 versus 69.4±9.4 years, P=0.02), smoked more frequently (86.6% versus 78.8%, P=0.02), and were less often treated for recurrent lesions (8.8% versus 14.7%, P=0.04). In the RCTs, patients treated with DCB had all-cause mortality rates that were not different from those of patients treated with PTA (Kaplan-Meier estimates 1.8±0.7% versus 1.3±0.9%, 6.5±1.2% versus 5.9±1.9%, and 9.3±1.5% versus 9.9±2.4% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, P=0.86). All-cause mortality rates were similar in a 1906-patient pooled nonrandomized DCB data set (Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2.1%, 4.9%, and 7.0% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively). Clinical Events Committee-adjudicated causes of death were balanced between the DCB and PTA cohorts. Multivariable Cox modeling identified age (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08; P<0.001), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-2.00; P=0.04), congestive heart failure (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.12-3.16; P=0.02), and renal insufficiency (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33-3.01; P<0.001) as predictors of mortality. Paclitaxel exposure was unrelated to mortality (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.98-1.10; P=0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality rates for patients treated with the DCB and uncoated PTA were indistinguishable over 3-year follow-up. Additional patient-level, adequately powered meta-analyses with larger RCT data sets will be needed to confirm the generalizability of these findings.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT02110524, NCT01858363, NCT01858428, NCT03421561, NCT01912937, NCT01927068, and NCT02769273.

Treatment Effect of Drug-Coated Balloons Is Durable to 3 Years in the Femoropopliteal Arteries: Long-Term Results of the IN.PACT SFA Randomized Trial

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background—

Randomized controlled trials have reported favorable 1-year outcomes with drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease when compared with standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Evidence remains limited on the durability of the treatment effect with DCBs in the longer term.

Methods and Results—

IN.PACT SFA is a single-blind, randomized trial (Randomized Trial of IN.PACT Admiral Paclitaxel-Coated Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty [PTA] Balloon Catheter vs Standard PTA for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Superficial Femoral Artery [SFA] and/or Proximal Popliteal Artery [PPA]) that enrolled 331 patients with symptomatic (Rutherford 2–4) femoropopliteal lesions up to 18 cm in length. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive treatment with DCB or PTA. The 36-month assessments included primary patency, freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization, major adverse events, and functional outcomes. At 36 months, primary patency remained significantly higher among patients treated with DCB compared with PTA (69.5% versus 45.1%; log rank P<0.001). The rates of clinically driven target lesion revascularization were 15.2% and 31.1% (P=0.002) for the DCB and PTA groups, respectively. Functional outcomes were similarly improved between treatment groups even though subjects in the DCB group required significantly fewer reinterventions versus those in the PTA group (P<0.001 for target lesion revascularization, P=0.001 for target vessel revascularization). There were no device- or procedure-related deaths as adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee.

Conclusions—

Three-year results demonstrate a durable and superior treatment effect among patients treated with DCB versus standard PTA, with significantly higher primary patency and lower clinically driven target lesion revascularization, resulting in similar functional improvements with reduced need for repeat interventions.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01175850 for IN.PACT SFA phase I in the European Union and NCT01566461 for IN.PACT SFA phase II in the United States.

Dissections After Infrainguinal Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty: A Systematic Review and Current State of Clinical Evidence

Purpose: To systematically review the literature and extract information on the definitions, prevalence, implications, and treatment of dissections after infrainguinal balloon angioplasty, with a goal of summarizing current data and identifying gaps in knowledge to help direct future research. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were reviewed for prospective and retrospective studies reporting dissection identification, characterization, incidence, severity, and/or outcomes after infrainguinal balloon angioplasty up to January 30, 2019. The electronic search resulted in 288 studies. From these, 153 full-text articles were assessed, and 51 published from 1964 to 2018 were selected as relevant to this systematic review. Because of the significant between-study differences in lesion characteristics, reporting methods, and lack of core laboratory adjudication, the findings were summarized from each study, but the results were not pooled. Results: The mechanism of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) consists of adventitial stretching, medial necrosis, and controlled dissection or plaque fracture. PTA-induced dissections can precipitate pathological high and low shear hemodynamic defects and have been implicated as a contributing factor in procedural complications as well as restenosis at the treatment site. The development of significant dissection after PTA often leads to the use of adjunctive therapies, including stent placement. Despite the ubiquitous nature of dissection after balloon angioplasty (incidence 7.4% to 84%), limited data are available to categorize dissections in the peripheral arteries and direct subsequent treatments to improve vessel patency. With the increased utilization of drug-coated balloon angioplasty, understanding the outcomes of postangioplasty dissection has become increasingly important, as the decision to treat dissections with additional strategies has therapeutic and economic implications. Conclusion: All post-PTA dissections in the femoropopliteal arteries may benefit from a treatment approach that ensures optimal hemodynamics with long-term durability in treated lesions. Further understanding the importance of postangioplasty dissections, along with the development of new technologies, will help optimize the patency of endovascular interventions.

Treatment of de novo femoro-popliteal lesions with a new Drug Coated Balloon: early experience of a single Center in the first 50 patients

Angioplasty with drug-coated balloon (DCB) is an emerging and reliable method for the treatment of femoro-popliteal lesions. We report our experience with the Stellarex™ DCB in the first 50 patients.

METHODS

From July 2015 to November 2017, 50 patients (41 M, 9F), medium age (64 ± 7.4 year) were subject to 33 angioplasties (PTAs) for femoro-popliteal lesions with a paclitaxel-coated balloon (Stellarex™). Based upon clinical data sixteen patients had severe claudication (56% - Rutherford class 3); ten patients suffered from ischemic rest pain (34% - Rutherford class 4); and five presented minor tissue loss (10% - Rutherford class 5). 42% of patients showed femoro-popliteal lesion TASC-II B, and 58% presented lesions pertaining to TASC-II C.

RESULTS

Immediate technical success was 100% without perioperative complications. Primary patency rate was 94% at twelve months. In three cases restenosis (6%) was detected within a year from procedure, and a further PTA DCB was performed with primary assisted patency rates of 100% at twelve months. Two patients underwent major lower limb amputation. Three patients died during follow-up and one patient was lost at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

DCB angioplasty with Stellarex™ is a viable alternative to traditional endovascular procedures proving satisfactory primary patency rates at twelve months. Based on our experience, treatment with DCB is a first choice technique for non-complex de novo lesions of the femoro - popliteal tract.

Drug-coated Balloons in the Femoropopliteal Region: Dream or Reality?

Peripheral arterial disease is a severe pathology. Several methods have been tested in order to increase the patency rate and the quality of life. The superficial femoral artery is considered a very difficult region due to the continuous movement of the leg that modify the length and the morphology of this vessel. Since their introduction, drug-coated balloons have been correlated with an increased patency rate. Several studies have been performed and nowadays a level 1 evidence is available. Not all the lesions can be treated successfuly with drug-coated balloons. For example in case of heavely calcified lesions vessel preparation is required. This can be performed with atherectomy, scorig balloon, lithoplasty in order to debulk the lesion and increase the drug uptake.

In vitro and in vivo Assessment of Keratose as a Novel Excipient of Paclitaxel Coated Balloons

Purpose: Drug coated balloons (DCB) are continually improving due to advances in coating techniques and more effective excipients. Paclitaxel, the current drug choice of DCB, is a microtubule-stabilizing chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation. Excipients work to promote coating stability and facilitate paclitaxel transfer and retention at the target lesion, although current excipients lack sustained, long-term paclitaxel retention. Keratose, a naturally derived protein, has exhibited unique properties allowing for tuned release of various therapeutic agents. However, little is known regarding its ability to support delivery of anti-proliferative agents such as paclitaxel. The goal of this project was to thus demonstrate the feasibility of keratose as a DCB-coating excipient to promote the release and delivery of paclitaxel. Methods: Keratose was combined with paclitaxel in vitro and the release kinetics of paclitaxel and keratose were evaluated through high performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) and spectrophotometry, respectively. A custom coating method was developed to deposit keratose and paclitaxel on commercially available angioplasty balloons via an air spraying method. Coatings were then visualized under scanning electron microscopy and drug load quantified by HPLC-MS. Acute arterial transfer of paclitaxel at 1 h was assessed using a novel ex vivo model and further evaluated in vivo in a porcine ilio-femoral injury model. Results: Keratose demonstrated tunable release of paclitaxel as a function of keratose concentration in vitro. DCB coated via air spraying yielded consistent drug loading of 4.0 ± 0.70 μg/mm2. Under scanning electron microscopy, the keratose-paclitaxel DCB showed uniform coverage with a consistent, textured appearance. The acute drug transfer of the keratose-paclitaxel DCB was 43.60 ± 14.8 ng/mg at 1 h ex vivo. These measurements were further confirmed in vivo as the acute 1 h arterial paclitaxel levels were 56.60 ± 66.4 ng/mg. Conclusion: The keratose-paclitaxel coated DCB exhibited paclitaxel uptake and achieved acute therapeutic arterial tissue levels, confirming the feasibility of keratose as a novel excipient for DCB.

Eluvia drug-eluting vascular stent system for the treatment of symptomatic femoropopliteal lesions

Endovascular options are increasingly recognized as primary treatments for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease inadequately responsive to noninvasive therapy. Options include balloon angioplasty and stent implantation, and newer technologies incorporate drug coatings to prevent restenosis and reduce the need for reintervention. The Eluvia drug-eluting vascular stent system (Boston Scientific, MA, USA) was designed with a biocompatible fluoropolymer coating to allow for drug elution over time. Initial clinical results demonstrate promising efficacy in terms of sustained femoropopliteal artery patency along with a good safety profile. This review summarizes the existing clinical literature on treatment of femoropopliteal artery lesions with Eluvia, and outlines the continuing research program.

Swirling Flow and Wall Shear: Evaluating the BioMimics 3D Helical Centerline Stent for the Femoropopliteal Segment

The BioMimics 3D self-expanding nitinol stent represents a strategy for femoropopliteal intervention that is alternative or complementary to deployment of drug-coated stents or balloons. Whereas conventional straight stents reduce arterial curvature and disturb blood flow, creating areas of low wall shear, where neointimal hyperplasia predominantly develops, the helical centerline geometry of the BioMimics 3D maintains or imparts arterial curvature, promotes laminar swirling blood flow, and elevates wall shear to protect against atherosclerosis and restenosis. In the multicenter randomized MIMICS trial, treatment of femoropopliteal disease with the BioMimics 3D (n = 50) significantly improved 2-year primary patency (log-rank test p = 0.05) versus a control straight stent (n = 26), with no cases of clinically driven target lesion revascularization between 12 and 24 months (log-rank test p = 0.03 versus controls). In geometric X-ray analysis, the BioMimics stent was significantly more effective in imparting a helical shape even when the arterial segment was moderately to severely calcified. Computational fluid dynamics analysis showed that average wall shear was significantly higher with the helical centerline stent (1.13 ± 0.13 Pa versus 1.06 ± 0.12 Pa, p = 0.05). A 271-patient multicenter international MIMICS-2 trial and a 500-patient real-world MIMICS-3D registry are underway.

Coating and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Air Spray Coated Drug Coated Balloons

Drug coated balloons (DCB) are becoming the standard-care treatment for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). DCB use excipients to transfer and retain anti-proliferative drugs, such as paclitaxel. Excipients thus play a vital role in the design and function of DCB, however methods to coat balloons with excipients and anti-proliferative drugs remain unknown. The goal of this study was to thus develop an approach to coat and evaluate DCB for various excipients. An air sprayer method was developed to deposit paclitaxel and various excipients onto non-coated commercially available angioplasty balloons. The coating of the angioplasty balloons was evaluated for drug deposition and coating efficiency using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Drug transfer and retention of the coated angioplasty balloons into arterial segments were evaluated ex vivo using harvested pig arteries in a pulsatile flow bioreactor. The air sprayer method successfully delivered varying excipients including bovine serum albumin (BSA), urea and iohexol. The air spray method was configured to coat four angioplasty balloons simultaneously with paclitaxel and iohexol with an average paclitaxel load of 4.0 ± 0.70 µg/mm². The intra-day (within) and inter-day (between) coating precisions, defined as relative standard deviation (RSD), was 17.2 and 15.5%, respectively. Ex vivo deployment of iohexol-paclitaxel DCB yielded an arterial paclitaxel concentration of 123.4 ± 44.68 ng/mg (n = 3) at 1 h, 126.7 ± 25.27 ng/mg (n = 3) at 1 day, and 12.9 ± 12.88 ng/mg (n = 3) at 7 days. This work provides proof-of-concept of a quick, inexpensive approach to coat commercially available angioplasty balloons with paclitaxel and various excipients.

Stellarex drug-coated balloon for treatment of femoropopliteal arterial disease-The ILLUMENATE Global Study: 12-Month results from a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and performance of Stellarex Drug‐coated balloon (DCB).

Background

DCB coatings differ in excipients, paclitaxel dose, and coating morphologies. Due to these differences, a class effect with DCBs has not been demonstrated. Consequently, each DCB needs to be evaluated independently based on its own clinical study results.

Methods

The ILLUMENATE Global Study is a prospective, multicenter, single‐arm study. Patients with intermittent claudication or ischemic rest pain due to superficial femoral artery (SFA) and/or popliteal peripheral artery disease (PAD) were treated with the Stellarex DCB. The primary efficacy endpoint was primary patency, defined as freedom from restenosis with peak systolic velocity ratio ≤2.5 or clinically‐driven target lesion revascularization (CD‐TLR) at 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was freedom from device and procedure‐related death through 30 days postprocedure and freedom from target limb major amputation and CD‐TLR through 12 months.

Results

In total, 417 lesions were treated in 371 patients. The mean lesion length was 7.5 ± 5.3 cm, 40.8% of lesions were severely calcified per core laboratory fluoroscopy criteria and 31.3% were total occlusions. Primary patency by independent duplex core lab evaluation was 81.4% and the freedom from CD‐TLR was 94.8% day 365 per Kaplan‐Meier estimate. The majority of patients experienced improvements in their Rutherford classification (90.3%) and walking impairment questionnaire score (83.6%) at 12 months compared to baseline.

Conclusions

This study validated previous positive findings and confirms the strong safety profile and effectiveness outcomes.

Endovascular Interventions for Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis of Current Technologies

PURPOSE

To use network meta-analysis (NMA) to determine the optimal endovascular strategy for management of femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease (PAD) given the lack of multiple prospective randomized trials to guide treatment decisions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NMA is a new meta-analytic method that permits comparisons among any 2 therapies by combining results of a collection of clinical trials conducted in the same or similar patient population. NMA was used to analyze data from 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 prospective, multicenter, single-arm trials (combined evidence [CE] NMA) that evaluated target lesion revascularization (TLR) for 5 endovascular strategies: bare metal stent (BMS), polymer-covered metal stent (CMS), drug-eluting stent (DES), drug-coated balloon (DCB) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

RESULTS

The RCT and CE NMAs included 2,912 (6,091) patients with 3,151 (6,786) person-years of follow-up. In the CE NMA, DCB provided a statistically significant 68% reduction in TLR compared with PTA and a statistically significant 53% reduction in TLR compared with BMS. BMS, CMS, and DES provided reductions in TLR of 33%, 48%, and 58% compared with PTA, with statistical significance achieved for CMS and DES. The significant reductions in TLR for DCB compared with PTA and BMS were replicated in the RCT NMA.

CONCLUSIONS

This NMA demonstrated that DCB provided better reduction in TLR rates compared with PTA and BMS.

Short vs prolonged dual antiplatelet treatment upon endovascular stenting of peripheral arteries

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a highly prevalent disorder with a substantial economical burden. Dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) upon endovascular stenting to prevent acute thrombotic reocclusions is an universally accepted practice for postinterventional management of PAD patients. However, the optimal period of time for DAPT upon endovascular stenting is not known.

METHODS

In the current nonrandomized, retrospective monocentric study, we evaluated the duration of DAPT upon endovascular stenting. A total of 261 endovascular SFA and iliac stenting procedures were performed on 214 patients and these patients were subdivided into a short (4-6 weeks) or a prolonged (8-12 weeks) DAPT regime group. More than 65% of the patients included were male, approximately 35% were diabetic, and 61% had a history of smoking. Of all the patients, 90% exhibited a Rutherford stage 2-3, and approximately half of the patients had a moderate-to-severe calcified target lesion with a length of >13 cm. Major safety end points were defined as any bleeding, compartment syndrome, and ischemic events. In addition to this, patency, all-cause mortality, as well as amputation were followed up over a period of 12 months upon intervention.

RESULTS

Twelve months after endovascular stenting, primary patency in our cohort was comparable between the groups (83.94% short vs 79.8% long DAPT, P>0.05). Major bleeding occurred in 18 cases without any difference between the groups (P>0.05). In addition, during the 12-month follow-up, 6 (3.4%) patients in the short and 3 (3.5%) in the prolonged DAPT regime suffered a stroke/transient ischemic attack (P>0.05). In addition, there was no difference regarding mortality and amputation rate comparing short vs prolonged DAPT regime in a 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In the current cohort, prolonged DAPT after endovascular stenting had no beneficial effect on the outcome in a 12-month follow-up.

Long-Term Results from the MAJESTIC Trial of the Eluvia Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent for Femoropopliteal Treatment: 3-Year Follow-up

PURPOSE

To report the 3-year results of the MAJESTIC first-in-human study of the Eluvia Drug-Eluting Vascular Stent System for treating femoropopliteal artery lesions.

METHODS

The prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial enrolled 57 patients with symptomatic lower limb ischemia (Rutherford category 2, 3, or 4) and lesions in the superficial femoral artery or proximal popliteal artery. Mean lesion length was 70.8 ± 28.1 mm, and 46% of lesions were occluded. Efficacy measures at 2 years included primary patency, defined as duplex ultrasound peak systolic velocity ratio of ≤2.5 and the absence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) or bypass. Safety monitoring through 3 years included adverse events and TLR.

RESULTS

Primary patency was estimated as 83.5% (Kaplan-Meier analysis) at 24 months, and 90.6% (48/53) of patients maintained an improvement in Rutherford class. At 36 months, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from TLR was 85.3%. No stent fractures were identified, and no major target limb amputations occurred.

CONCLUSION

MAJESTIC results demonstrated long-term treatment durability among patients whose femoropopliteal arteries were treated with the paclitaxel-eluting Eluvia stent.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 2b, cohort study.

Advances in Percutaneous Therapies for Peripheral Artery Disease: Drug-Coated Balloons

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review paper provides a summary on the use of drug-coated balloons in peripheral artery disease. It covers the main drug-coated balloon (DCB) trials. It is divided into categories of lesions: superficial femoral artery and popliteal lesions, infra-popliteal lesions and in-stent restenosis. It also includes an overview of the future of DCBs, highlighting the main ongoing trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

The latest research on DCB focuses on newer types of DCBs, mainly paclitaxel-coated but with lower doses. Another area of latest DCB research is its use in superficial femoral artery and popliteal artery in-stent restenosis, with superior outcomes. Drug-coated balloons produce better outcomes than percutaneous transluminal angioplasty alone in de novo and in-stent restenosis lesions of superficial femoral artery and popliteal arteries. More data are needed to demonstrate efficacy and safety of DCBs in infrapopliteal disease. Newer DCBs and adjunctive therapy may provide improved outcomes for peripheral artery disease interventions.

A Pilot Study of Femoropopliteal Artery Revascularisation with a Low Dose Paclitaxel Coated Balloon: Is Predilatation Necessary?

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

The objective was to compare 2 year outcomes in patients treated with or without predilatation prior to drug coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for symptomatic femoropopliteal lesions.

METHODS

This prospective multicentre pilot study was conducted at three sites in Germany. It compared claudicants undergoing predilatation with a bare percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon before DCB (predilatation group) with patients undergoing direct DCB (direct DCB group). Patients were followed for 2 years. Outcomes included late lumen loss at 6 months, and ankle brachial index (ABI), major adverse events, and primary patency at 2 years. A Clinical Events Committee and core laboratories analysed adverse events and angiographic/duplex images, respectively.

RESULTS

Between December 2011 and November 2012, 50 patients were enrolled to the predilatation group (12% total occlusions) and 28 to the direct DCB group (5% total occlusions). Follow-up compliance at the 2 year visit was 88% (n = 44) and 86% (n = 24), respectively. Late lumen loss at 6 months was lower in the direct DCB group (0.03 ± 0.68 mm vs. 0.54 ± 0.97 mm; p = .01). Major adverse events over 2 years occurred in seven (15%) patients who underwent predilatation and in five (19%) after direct DCB. Mean ABI at 2 years was 0.94 ± 0.15 after predilatation and 1.0 ± 0.12 after direct DCB. Over 2 years, primary patency (80.3% vs. 78.2%; p = .55) was not statistically different between the groups. After propensity score adjustments, 2 year findings remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Paclitaxel coated PTA, with or without bare predilatation, is effective over 2 years in symptomatic patients with femoropopliteal stenotic lesions. Adequately powered randomised controlled comparisons are required to confirm these preliminary results.

Stellarex Drug-Coated Balloon for Treatment of Femoropopliteal Disease: Twelve-Month Outcomes From the Randomized ILLUMENATE Pivotal and Pharmacokinetic Studies

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are a predominant revascularization therapy for symptomatic femoropopliteal artery disease. Because of the differences in excipients, paclitaxel dose, and coating morphologies, varying clinical outcomes have been observed with different DCBs. We report the results of 2 studies investigating the pharmacokinetic and clinical outcomes of a new DCB to treat femoropopliteal disease.

Methods:

In the ILLUMENATE Pivotal Study (Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blind, U.S. Multi-Center Study to Evaluate Treatment of Obstructive Superficial Femoral Artery or Popliteal Lesions With A Novel Paclitaxel-Coated Percutaneous Angioplasty Balloon), 300 symptomatic patients (Rutherford class 2–4) were randomly assigned to DCB (n=200) or standard angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA]) (n=100). The primary safety end point was freedom from device- and procedure-related death through 30 days, and freedom from target limb major amputation and clinically driven target lesion revascularization through 12 months. The primary effectiveness end point was primary patency through 12 months. In the ILLUMENATE PK study (Pharmacokinetic Study of the Stellarex Drug-Coated Angioplasty Balloon), paclitaxel plasma concentrations were measured after last DCB deployment and at prespecified times (at 1, 4, 24 hours and at 7 and 14 days postprocedure) until no longer detectable.

Results:

In the ILLUMENATE Pivotal Study, baseline characteristics were similar between groups: 50% had diabetes mellitus, 41% were women, mean lesion length was 8.3 cm, and 44% were severely calcified. The primary safety end point was met (92.1% for DCB versus 83.2% for PTA, P=0.025 for superiority) and the primary patency rate was significantly higher with DCB (76.3% for DCB versus 57.6% for PTA, P=0.003). Primary patency per Kaplan-Meier estimates at day 365 was 82.3% for DCB versus 70.9% for PTA (P=0.002). The rate of clinically driven target lesion revascularization was significantly lower in the DCB cohort (7.9% versus 16.8%, P=0.023). Improvements in ankle-brachial index, Rutherford class, and quality of life were comparable, but the PTA cohort required twice as many revascularizations. Pharmacokinetic outcomes showed that all patients had detectable paclitaxel levels after DCB deployment that declined within the first hour (54.4±116.9 ng/mL to 1.4±1.0 ng/mL).

Conclusions:

The data demonstrate superior safety and effectiveness of the Stellarex DCB in comparison with PTA, and plasma levels of paclitaxel fall to low levels within 1 hour.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01858428 and NCT01912937.

Angiographic and Clinical Outcomes After Treatment of Femoro-Popliteal Lesions with a Novel Paclitaxel-Matrix-Coated Balloon Catheter

OBJECTIVES

Based on a novel paclitaxel-resveratrol drug matrix, the safety and efficacy to inhibit intimal hyperplasia were studied in symptomatic claudicants with morphologically challenging lesions.

BACKGROUND

The treatment of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is limited by occurrence of vessel recoil and neointimal hyperplasia. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) deliver drugs to the arterial wall to potentially reduce the restenosis rate. A number of paclitaxel-coated balloon technologies are available to treat peripheral lesions.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 153 patients with symptomatic PAOD in femoro-popliteal lesions were randomized either to DCB or plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA).

RESULTS

The mean lesion length was 13.2 ± 10.4 cm with target lesion total occlusions in 26.1% of all patients (40/153). The primary endpoint of in-lesion late lumen loss (LLL) at 6 months was significantly reduced in the DCB group as compared to the POBA group (0.35 mm CI [0.19; 0.79 mm] vs. 0.72 mm CI [0.68; 1.22 mm], p = 0.006). At 12 months, the TLR rate in the DCB group was significantly lower as compared to the POBA group (17.8 vs. 37.7% p = 0.008). The censored walking distance increase suggests a benefit for patients who underwent DCB angioplasty as compared to the standard POBA treatment (12 months 165 ± 105 vs. 94 ± 136 m, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The use of paclitaxel-resveratrol-matrix-coated peripheral balloon angioplasty as compared to POBA was associated with significantly reduced in-lesion LLL and reduced TLR rates. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01970579.