Drug-eluting balloon: Initial experience in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR)

Background

In-stent restenosis is the most important limitation of modern coronary angioplasty. Drug-eluting stents solve this problem but at the cost of late stent thrombosis and longer duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy. Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) technology is now available and offers an attractive option for treatment of restenosis.

Methods

A cohort of 20 patients with in-stent restenosis after stenting were treated with a drug-eluting balloon and were followed up clinically and angiographically for 6 months.

Results and conclusion

Procedural success was achieved in all patients. 6 month clinical follow-up was available for all and 6 month angiographic follow up for 17 patients. On 6 month follow-up, 5 of the 20 patients had recurrence of angina and 4 patients had angiographic restenosis (2 focal, 2 diffuse). The mean Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina score improved significantly from 3.1 to 1.1. DEB offers a novel method of treatment for patients with in-stent restenosis with a good safety and efficacy profile.