Drug-coated balloons: Technologies and clinical applications

The progress and development of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) represents an emerging alternative treatment in peripheral and coronary artery diseases, particularly when a non-stent approach is necessary. Several studies and meta-analyses have evaluated the clinical outcomes of DCBs in different lesions and this review aims to compile the progress and updated clinical data of DCB strategy in both peripheral artery diseases (PAD) and coronary artery diseases (CAD). The review highlights that clinical data has encouraged the use of DCB for applications in PAD and in the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). The employment of DCB in side branch treatment of bifurcation lesions has been reported to be feasible and safe, with good angiographic and clinical outcome. The use of DCB for arteriovenous fistula and grafts stenoses is a promising strategy, but more clinical data is required to draw reliable conclusions. The limitations and impact of the current generation of DCBs will be discussed and the clinical development of newer generation of the device is also covered in this review.