Retrospective analysis on diameters of drug-coated balloons and predilatation balloons in infra-inguinal endovascular treatment (RABBIT study).

This multicenter retrospective study assessed the clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) using a drug-coated balloon (DCB) that was larger than the predilatation balloons for femoropopliteal artery lesions. We analyzed 1140 cases with symptomatic peripheral artery disease that underwent EVT with DCB for femoropopliteal lesions between 2017 and 2021. The primary endpoint was procedural failure, defined as a composite of deteriorated dissection and bailout stenting. The secondary endpoints included deteriorated dissection, bailout stenting, restenosis, and target lesion revascularization. We performed propensity score matching to compare the clinical outcomes between EVT with a DCB which was larger than the predilatation balloon (larger DCB) and EVT with a DCB which was not (nonlarger DCB). We assigned 276 cases to the larger DCB group and 864 cases to the nonlarger DCB group. Procedural failure was observed in 75 cases, whereas restenosis occurred in 282 cases during a mean follow-up period of 12.7 ± 9.7 months. Propensity score matching extracted 273 pairs with no intergroup difference in baseline characteristics, except the predilatation balloon size. Procedural failure (9.2% versus 6.1%, P = 0.11), deteriorated dissection and bailout stenting proportion (both P > 0.05), and 1-year rates of freedom from restenosis (82.4% versus 84.1%, P = 0.59) and target lesion revascularization (89.7% versus 90.4%, P = 0.83) showed no significant difference between the larger and nonlarger DCB groups. Irrespective of whether the DCB size was larger than the predilatation balloon, no difference was observed in either procedural or clinical outcomes.

Sex Differences in 5-Year Outcomes After Deferral of Revascularization Following Physiological Coronary Assessment.

Background: The relationship between sex differences and long-term outcomes after fractional flow reserve (FFR)- and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR)-guided deferral of revascularization has yet to be elucidated. Methods and Results: From the J-CONFIRM registry (long-term outcomes of Japanese patients with deferral of coronary intervention based on FFR in a multicenter registry), this study included 432 lesions from 385 patients (men, 323 lesions in 286 patients; women, 109 lesions in 99 patients) with paired data of FFR and iFR. The primary endpoint was the cumulative 5-year incidence of target vessel failure (TVF), including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization. The median FFR value was lower in men than in women (0.85 [0.81, 0.88] vs. 0.87 [0.83, 0.91], P=0.002), but the iFR value was comparable between men and women (0.94 [0.90, 0.98] vs. 0.93 [0.89, 0.98], P=0.26). The frequency of discordance between FFR and iFR was comparable between men and women (19.5% vs. 23.9%, P=0.34), although with different discordance patterns (P=0.036). The cumulative incidence of 5-year TVF did not differ between men and women after adjustment for baseline characteristics (13.9% vs. 6.9%, adjusted hazard ratio 1.82 [95% confidence interval: 0.44-7.56]; P=0.41). Conclusions: Despite sex differences in the results for physiological indexes, the 5-year TVF in deferred lesions did not differ between men and women after adjustment for baseline characteristics.

Multicenter Registry of Common Femoral Artery Disease Treated With Endovascular Revascularization Using Interwoven Nitinol Stents: An Observational Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Surgical thromboendarterectomy has been the gold standard treatment for common femoral artery (CFA) disease. However, endovascular therapy (EVT) is conducted in certain patients with CFA lesions because of multiple comorbidities. The interwoven nitinol stent (IWS) has been developed to prevent stent fracture. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of EVT using IWS for CFA lesions in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter registry analyzed patients who had symptomatic lower-extremity artery disease due to CFA lesions and underwent EVT using IWS between 2019 and 2021. The primary endpoint was restenosis 2 years after EVT. RESULTS: This study enrolled a total of 177 patients with 196 CFA lesions. The 2-year estimate of freedom from restenosis was 88.0%. The 2-year freedom rates from the target-lesion revascularization, major amputation, and all-cause death were 92.9%, 99.0%, and 75.2%, respectively. The clinical features significantly associated with restenosis risk were the reference vessel diameter (RVD, per 1.0 mm, hazard ratio [HR], 0.24 [0.08-0.70]; p=0.009), external iliac artery (EIA) involvement (HR=4.03 [1.56-10.4]; p=0.004), superficial femoral artery (SFA) involvement (HR=3.05 [1.00-9.25]; p=0.049), body mass index (BMI; per 1.0, HR=0.85 [0.73-0.99]; p=0.032), occlusion of deep femoral arteries (DFAs) at baseline (HR=7.89 [2.04-30.5]; p=0.003), and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI, HR=2.63 [1.02-6.78]; p=0.045). Their significant association was also confirmed by the random survival forest analysis. During a median follow-up of 12.0 months, guiding sheaths were inserted via CFAs implanted IWSs in 73 cases (37.2%), and no patients had cannulation-related complications, such as failed hemostasis, fracture of IWS, and stent occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular therapy using IWS in CFA lesions showed acceptable 2-year patency rates at 88.0% and might preserve the arterial access via the ipsilateral CFAs. Small RVD, involving EIA and SFA lesions, emaciation, occluded DFA, and CLTI are associated with poor 2-year patency rates following EVT, thus, IWS implantation in CFA lesions may be an option for patients unsuitable for surgical revascularization. CLINICAL IMPACT: This retrospective multicenter registry enrolled 177 patients with 199 CFA lesions treated with EVT using interwoven nitinol stents, because surgical thromboendarterectomy was difficult due to their multiple comorbidities. The 2-year estimate of freedom from restenosis was acceptable at 88.0%. The 2-year freedom rate from major amputation was also high at 99.0%. Moreover, during a median follow-up of 12.0 months, guiding sheaths were inserted via CFAs implanted IWSs in 73 cases, and no patients had cannulation-related complications such as failed hemostasis, fracture of IWS, and stent occlusion.

Prognostic Impact of Renal Function on 5-Year Outcomes After Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Deferral of Revascularization.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) might influence fractional flow reserve (FFR) value, potentially attenuating its prognostic utility. However, few large-scale data are available regarding clinical outcomes after FFR-guided deferral of revascularization in patients with CKD. Methods and Results From the J-CONFIRM registry (Long-Term Outcomes of Japanese Patients With Deferral of Coronary Intervention Based on Fractional Flow Reserve in Multicenter Registry), 1218 patients were divided into 3 groups according to renal function: (1) non-CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m2), n=385; (2) CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate 15-59 mL/min per 1.73 m2, n=763); and (3) end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1.73 m2, n=70). The primary study end point was the cumulative 5-year incidence of target vessel failure (TVF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinical driven target vessel revascularization. Cumulative 5-year incidence of TVF was significantly higher in the ESRD group than in the CKD and non-CKD group, whereas it did not differ between the CKD and non-CKD groups (26.3% versus 11.9% versus 9.5%, P<0.001). Although the 5-year TVF risk increased as the FFR value decreased regardless of renal function, patients with ESRD had a remarkably higher risk of TVF at every FFR value than those with CKD and non-CKD. Conclusions At 5 years, patients with ESRD showed a higher incidence of TVF than patients with CKD and non-CKD, although with similar outcomes between patients with CKD and non-CKD. Patients with ESRD had an excess risk of 5-year TVF at every FFR value compared with those with CKD and non-CKD. Registration URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp; Unique identifier: UMIN000014473.

Low-Dose vs High-Dose Drug-Coated Balloon for Symptomatic Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: The PROSPECT MONSTER Study Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have shown comparable outcomes between second-generation low-dose drug-coated balloons (LD-DCBs) and first-generation high-dose drug-coated balloons (HD-DCBs); but the trial patients had low clinical complexity, and there were no comparisons in medically complex populations. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between an LD-DCB (Ranger; 2.0 µg/mm2) and an HD-DCB (IN.PACT; 3.5 µg/mm2) in patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal artery disease. METHODS: PROSPECT MONSTER (Prospective Comparison of Second-Generation Low-Dose Drug-Coated Balloon With High-Dose Drug-Coated Balloon) was a prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized trial that prospectively collected data from 581 patients who underwent endovascular therapy with the LD-DCB (n = 370) or the HD-DCB (n = 211) for symptomatic femoropopliteal artery disease (Rutherford classes 2-5). The primary outcome was the 1-year primary patency of the LD-DCB in comparison with that of the HD-DCB, as evaluated using propensity score matching. The incidence of impaired flow after drug-coated balloon application was also evaluated. RESULTS: Propensity score matching extracted 163 pairs (358 and 163 patients in the LD-DCB and HD-DCB groups, respectively), with no significant intergroup difference in baseline characteristics. The 1-year primary patency rates in the matched population were similar between the LD-DCB and HD-DCB groups (87.0% [95% CI: 82.5%-91.7%] vs 81.3% [95% CI: 74.8%-88.5%]; HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.55-1.59; P = 0.79), as was the incidence of impaired flow (13.6% vs 9.8%; OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.78-2.73; P = 0.24). No baseline characteristics had any significant interaction effects on the association of the LD-DCB vs the HD-DCB and 1-year restenosis risk. CONCLUSIONS: LD-DCBs demonstrate efficacy and safety comparable with HD-DCBs in patients with complex clinical backgrounds, suggesting that drug-coated balloon treatment using a lower dose may be possible.

Endovascular Therapy with Interwoven Nitinol Stent Placement after Predilation for Heavily Calcified Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: Results of the BURDOCK Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the 1-year and 2-year clinical outcomes of interwoven stent (IWS) implantation for symptomatic femoropopliteal arterial disease with calcification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective multicenter study evaluated 308 limbs (63% with the peripheral arterial calcium scoring system 3 and 4 severe calcification and 87% with ≥180° calcification on intravascular ultrasound) of 299 patients (diabetes in 66.9%, chronic renal failure in 52.8%, and dialysis in 49.2%) who underwent IWS (Supera; Abbott, Abbott Park, Illinois) implantation after sufficient predilation (residual stenosis < 30%) for calcified femoropopliteal lesions. The primary outcome measure was primary patency (freedom from restenosis) at 1 and 2 years, whereas the secondary outcome measure included freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR). Clinical parameters associated with loss of patency were explored. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that primary patency was 88.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.5%-92.1%) at 1 year and 80.8% (95% CI, 76.1%-85.8%) at 2 years. The CD-TLR-free rate was 96.5% and 94.8% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. The characteristics associated with loss of patency were restenotic lesion with and without stent implantation (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.96 and 2.40; P = .047 and .041, respectively), chronic total occlusion (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.88; P = .022), and popliteal involvement (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.60; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of IWS after sufficient predilation for calcified femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease demonstrated clinically acceptable primary patency.

Prognostic impact of Achilles tendon thickness in elderly patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating the Achilles tendon thickness (ATT) may be beneficial for risk stratification of long-term secondary cardiovascular events among patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: This observational study evaluated major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes, at 5 years after PCI according to the baseline ATT (≥9 mm vs. <9 mm). RESULTS: Overall, 355 patients aged ≥75 years were enrolled; 47 (13.2 %) and 308 patients (86.8 %) had an ATT ≥9 mm and <9 mm, respectively. The incidence of MACCEs at 5 years was numerically higher but not significantly different for the ATT ≥9 mm group compared with the ATT <9 mm group (Gray's p-value = 0.10). However, the incidence of cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes at 5 years was significantly higher in the ATT ≥9 mm group than in the ATT <9 mm group (Gray's p-value = 0.034). Multivariable Fine and Gray competing risk analysis showed that an ATT ≥9 mm was associated with both MACCEs [hazard ratio (HR), 1.95; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.12-3.41; p-value = 0.019] and cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes (HR, 2.81; 95 % CI, 1.31-6.03; p-value = 0.008) at 5 years in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: A significantly thick Achilles tendon could be a marker for MACCEs, including cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes, at 5 years among elderly patients with an eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 after PCI.

Comparing the Safety and Feasibility of Endovascular Therapy via Transradial and Transfemoral Approaches in Patients with Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the Nationwide Registry.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of performing endovascular therapy (EVT) for aortoiliac artery disease using transradial approach (TRA) as compared to transfemoral approach (TFA). METHODS: We analyzed 9671 cases with symptomatic lower extremity artery disease due to aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) treated using EVT from a Japanese Nationwide EVT Registry between January and December 2021. We compared the baseline characteristics, procedural information, and 30-day outcomes of patients who received EVT only via TRA (n=863 [16.9%]) and those only via TFA (n=4255 [83.1%]) by using propensity score (PS) matching, after excluding those who required regular dialysis, those who underwent hybrid surgeries, and those who received EVT through 2 or more approach sites. RESULTS: After matching, the final study population consisted of 862 matched patients with similar baseline characteristics in each group. Technical success rate was comparable between the 2 groups (99.3% vs. 99.3%, p>0.99). No significant differences were observed with respect to the composite of all-cause death within 48 hours after EVT and post-procedural complications within 30 days, including severe bleeding that required transfusion, revascularization procedures, urgent surgeries, cerebral infarction, and major limb amputation (0.2% vs. 0.7%, p=0.29). Transradial approach was associated with shorter operation time (85 vs. 90 minutes, p=0.016), but longer fluoroscopy time (26 vs. 20 minutes, p<0.001) and higher contrast agent volume (80 vs. 75 mL, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: After PS matching, TRA showed the comparable rates of successful EVT and 30-day complications in patients with AIOD compared to TFA. Transradial approach was found to be safe and be a viable alternative of TFA for the treatment of AIOD. CLINICAL IMPACT: The efficacy of transradial approach (TRA) is established in percutaneous coronary intervention; however, its safety and feasibility are unclear in endovascular therapy (EVT). We analyzed 9,671 cases with symptomatic aortoiliac occlusive disease treated using EVT from a Nationwide Registry to compare the 30-day outcomes of those who received EVT only via TRA (n = 863 [16.9%]and those only via TFA (n=4,255 [83.1%]) by using propensity score matching. Technical success rate (99.3% vs. 99.3%, p > 0.99) and 30-day complications (0.2% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.29) were comparable between the two groups. EVT via TRA could be performed safely.

Association between cancer history and second-generation drug-eluting stent thrombosis: insights from the REAL-ST registry.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated thrombosis is a frequent complication of cancer; however, little evidence is available regarding the association between cancer history and coronary artery stent thrombosis (ST). We aimed to investigate the relationship between cancer history and second-generation drug-eluting stent thrombosis (G2-ST). METHODS: From the REAL-ST (Retrospective Multicenter Registry of ST After First- and Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation) registry, this study evaluated 1265 patients (G2- ST cases, n = 253; controls, n = 1012) with cancer-related information available. RESULTS: The prevalence of patients with cancer history was higher (12.3% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.065), and that of currently diagnosed and currently treated cancer was significantly higher in ST cases than controls (3.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.021; 3.2% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.037, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that cancer history was associated with late ST (odds ratio [OR]: 2.80, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.92-8.55, p = 0.071) and very late ST (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.02-5.65, p = 0.046), but not with early ST (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.51-2.00, p = 0.97). During the median follow-up period of 872 days after the index ST events, patients with cancer history showed a higher mortality than those without, among both ST cases (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.06-3.51, p = 0.031) and controls (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.09-3.40, p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: A post hoc analysis of REAL-ST registry revealed that patients with G2-ST had a higher prevalence of currently diagnosed and currently treated cancer. Notably, cancer history was associated with the occurrence of late and very late ST, but not with early ST.

Multicenter, retrospective registry of isolated atherosclerotic popliteal arteries treated with endovascular revascularization.

Isolated atherosclerotic popliteal lesions (IAPLs) have been considered challenging. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of endovascular therapy (EVT) using the newer devices for IAPLs. This retrospective multicenter registry analyzed patients with lower extremity artery disease having IAPLs who underwent EVT using the newer devices between 2018 and 2021. The primary outcome was primary patency 1 year after EVT. A total of 392 consecutive patients undergoing EVT for IAPLs were enrolled. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the primary patency and the freedom from target lesion revascularization were 80.9% and 87.8% 1 year after EVT, respectively. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the clinical features that were independently associated with restenosis risk were drug-coated balloon (DCB) use for younger age (< 75 years old; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.08 [95% confidence interval 1.08-8.74]; P = 0.035), non-ambulatory status (2.74 [95% confidence interval 1.56-4.81]; P < 0.001), cilostazol use (0.51 [95% confidence interval 0.29-0.88]; P = 0.015), severe calcification (1.86 [95% confidence interval 1.18-2.94]; P = 0.007), and small external elastic membrane (EEM) area measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) (< 30 mm2) (2.07 [95% confidence interval 1.19-3.60]; P = 0.010). From the univariate analysis, among patients treated with DCB, younger patients (n = 141) were associated with more comorbidities including smoking (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001), end-stage renal disease (P < 0.001), history of revascularization (P = 0.046) and small EEM area (P = 0.036), compared to older patients (n = 140). Moreover, smaller post-procedural minimum lumen area measured by IVUS after DCB dilatation was observed in younger patients (12 ± 4 vs. 14 ± 4 mm2, P = 0.033). This retrospective study demonstrated that the current EVT provided an acceptable 1-year primary patency rate in patients with IAPLs. The primary patency was lower following DCB in younger patients, likely due to the higher rates of comorbidities in this patient population.

Single-Center Contemporary Clinical Outcomes after Endovascular Treatment in Patients with De Novo Femoropopliteal Lesions between 2017 and 2019.

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) and drug-eluting stents (DES) were available for treating femoropopliteal disease since 2017 and 2019. However, there are few reports to investigate whether approval of DCB and DES improved primary patency in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: We divided consecutive 407 patients into 2017 (n=93), 2018 (n=128), and 2019 (n=186) groups, undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) for de novo femoropopliteal lesions in our hospital. We retrospectively compared clinical characteristics, procedure, and one-year patency between the three groups. Results: Baseline characteristics were not different except for the lower rate of popliteal lesions in 2017 (p=0.030). Use of DCB increased from 7.5% in 2017 to 38.7% in 2019, and use of DES from 0.0% in 2018 to 24.2% in 2019. One-year primary patency increased significantly both from 2017 to 2018 (62.7% vs. 70.8%, p=0.036) and from 2018 to 2019 (70.8% vs. 80.5%, p=0.025). Cox proportional multivariate analysis revealed that restenosis was independently associated with advanced age (p=0.036) and hemodialysis (p=0.003). Conversely, use of paclitaxel-based devices (p<0.001) and larger diameter of finalized devices (p=0.005) were protective factors against restenosis. Conclusion: One-year primary patency after EVT in femoropopliteal lesions was improved annually by utilizing DCB and DES, individually.

Impact of calcification on clinical outcomes after drug-coated balloon angioplasty for superficial femoral artery disease: Assessment using the peripheral artery calcification scoring system.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the severity of calcification assessed by the peripheral artery calcification scoring system (PACSS) was associated with clinical outcomes of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 733 limbs with intermittent claudication of 626 patients, who underwent DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions between January 2017 and February 2021 at seven cardiovascular centers in Japan. The patients were categorized using the PACSS classification (grades 0-4: no visible calcification of the target lesion, unilateral wall calcification < 5 cm, unilateral calcification ≥ 5 cm, bilateral wall calcification < 5 cm, and bilateral calcification ≥ 5 cm, respectively). The main outcome was primary patency at 1 year. The Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to explore whether the PACSS classification was an independent predictor of clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The distribution of PACSS was grade 0 in 38%, grade 1 in 17%, grade 2 in 7%, grade 3 in 16%, and grade 4 in 23%. The 1-year primary patency rates in these grades, respectively, were 88.2%, 89.3%, 71.9%, 96.5%, and 82.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis disclosed that PACSS grade 4 (hazard ratio: 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.87, p = 0.010) was associated with restenosis. CONCLUSION: The PACSS grade 4 calcification was independently associated with poor clinical outcomes after DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions.

Retrospective multicenter registry for endovascular treatment with newer devices in over 25-cm femoropopliteal artery disease: A retrospective observational study.

Background and Aims: Endovascular therapy (EVT) is recommended in femoropopliteal (FP) lesions shorter than 25 cm by current guidelines; however, diffuse FP lesions remains challenging for EVT. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of EVT with the latest devices for FP lesions longer than 25 cm. Methods: This retrospective multicenter registry analyzed patients presented peripheral artery disease (PAD) having FP lesions longer than 25 cm who underwent EVT using the latest devices between 2017 and 2021. The primary outcome was restenosis 1 year after EVT. Results: The present study enrolled a total of 504 PAD patients with 614 lesions undergoing EVT for diffuse FP lesions. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the rates of freedom from restenosis and clinically-driven target lesion revascularization were 79.3% and 82.4% 1 year after EVT, respectively. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that clinical features associated independently with restenosis risk were cilostazol use (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.49 [0.32-0.74]; p = 0.001), reference vessel diameter (RVD) (0.72 [0.58-0.89] per 1-mm increase; p = 0.002), and P3 segment involvement (2.08 [1.33-3.26]; p = 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to compare the primary patency between cases with and without a small RVD, P3 involvement, and/or lack of cilostazol; any risk factors were related to a worse primary patency rate, compared with cases without risk factors. Conclusion: In the current EVT era, the primary patency at 1 year was acceptable at 79.3% in patients with FP lesions longer than 25 cm. A small vessel and P3 segment involvement might be associated with a poor 1-year patency rate after EVT, whereas cilostazol administration might contribute to reducing restenosis.

Impact of Postoperative Lumen Gain on the Reduction of Restenosis Risk after Endovascular Treatment using Drug-coated Balloon for Femoropopliteal Lesions Assessed by Intravascular Ultrasound.

AIM: This study aimed to reveal whether a larger postprocedural minimum lumen area (MLA) would reduce restenosis risk after endovascular therapy (EVT) using drug-coated balloons (DCBs) in femoropopliteal (FP) lesions. METHODS: This retrospective, nonrandomized, single-arm, and multicenter registry analyzed patients with FP lesions undergoing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided EVT with DCB between 2017 and 2021. The primary outcome was restenosis 1 year after EVT. The association between IVUS-based MLA and restenosis risk was investigated using a generalized propensity score (GPS) method to address imbalance of baseline covariates. The dose-response function of IVUS-measured MLA for restenosis risk was developed using the GPS-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: This study enrolled consecutive 489 patients with 595 lesions undergoing DCB treatment. The median MLA (interquartile range) was 13.20 (9.90-16.91) mm2. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that freedom from restenosis was 84.4% at 1 year. The GPS-adjusted dose-response function showed that MLA was inversely associated with restenosis risk. The upper limit of 95% confidence interval (CI) of the slope was lower than 0 between 10.6 and 17.0 mm2 of MLAs. The 1-year cumulative incidence of restenosis was estimated to be 9.8% (95% CI, 5.8%-13.7%) for the 3rd quartile of MLA (16.91 mm2) versus 18.5% (12.3%-24.1%) for the 1st quartile (9.90 mm2), with a hazard ratio of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.39-0.67; p＜0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present GPS analysis suggested that larger IVUS-measured MLA might be associated with lower risk of 1-year restenosis after DCB treatment for FP lesions.

Clinical outcome of drug-coated balloons in patients with femoropopliteal chronic total occlusive lesions: results from the multicenter EAGLE study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the efficacy of drug-coated balloons (DCB) for simple femoropopliteal (FP) lesions. However, the effectiveness of DCB for FP chronic total occlusive lesions (CTO) is controversial. The present study investigated the clinical outcomes of DCB for FP-CTO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 359 limbs of 318 patients who underwent endovascular therapy with DCB for FP-CTO between July 2017 and February 2021 at seven cardiovascular centers. The primary endpoint was 12-month primary patency. The secondary endpoints were the 12-month rates of freedom from: (1) clinically-driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), and (2) re-occlusion. The association of baseline characteristics with the 12-month restenosis risk was investigated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The 12-month rate of primary patency was 79.8% (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 75.1% to 84.8%), whereas the corresponding rates of freedom from CD-TLR and re-occlusion were 86.4% (95%CI: 82.6% to 90.4%) and 88.5% (95%CI: 84.7% to 92.4%), respectively. The bailout stent rate was 8.9%. Independent risk factors for restenosis were hemodialysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.18 [1.39 to 3.45]; P = 0.001), chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (2.02 [1.33 to 3.07]; P = 0.001), and restenosis lesion (2.02 [1.32 to 3.08]; P = 0.001). Use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was identified as a protective factor for restenosis (0.54 [0.35 to 0.82]; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low rate of bailout stent, DCB treatment for FP-CTO was effective in real-world clinical practice. Hemodialysis, CLTI, and restenosis lesion were independent risk factors for 12-month restenosis, and the use of DAPT significantly attenuated the risk of 12-month restenosis.

Retrospective Multicenter Comparison Between Viabahn Covered Stent-Grafts and Supera Interwoven Nitinol Stents for Endovascular Treatment in Severely Calcified Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: The ARMADILLO Study (Adjusted Retrospective coMparison of scAffolDs In caLcified LesiOns).

PURPOSE: The previous single-arm registries showed the acceptable primary patency after endovascular therapy (EVT) using covered stent-graft (CSG) and Supera interwoven nitinol stent (Supera peripheral stent [SPS]) in calcified femoropopliteal lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy between CSG and SPS in calcified femoropopliteal lesions in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 341 cases who had Rutherford class 2 to 6 peripheral artery disease and underwent EVT with either CSG (n=137) or SPS (n=204) for femoropopliteal lesions with bilateral calcification in fluoroscopic image, based on the Peripheral Arterial Calcium Scoring System (PACSS) classification, between April 2017 and February 2021 at 7 cardiovascular centers in Japan. RESULTS: After propensity score (PS) matching, the final study population consisted of 150 matched patients with no remarkable intergroup difference in baseline characteristics. The primary patency at 1 year was not statistically different between CSG and SPS groups (81.4% vs 71.2%, p=0.32). There was also no significant difference in freedom from target lesion revascularization (82.8% vs 77.6%, p=0.28) and overall survival rate (88.6% vs 87.2%, p=0.81). The stratification analysis demonstrated that advanced age, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, and PACSS grade 4 had a significant interaction on the association of CSG versus SPS implantation with restenosis (interaction p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bilaterally calcified femoropopliteal lesions, 1-year primary patency was not significantly different between treatments using CSG and SPS after the PS matching. CLINICAL IMPACT: Covered stent-graft (CSG) and Supera interwoven nitinol stent (SPS) are reliable endovascular devices in calcified femoropopliteal lesions. This retrospective multicenter study compared the clinical outcomes between the two devices. After propensity score matching, 150 matched patients with no remarkable intergroup difference in baseline characteristics. The primary patency at 1 year was not statistically different between the CSG and SPS group (81.4% vs. 71.2%, p=0.32). There was also no significant difference in freedom from target lesion revascularization (82.8% vs. 77.6%, p=0.28) and overall survival rate (88.6% vs 87.2%, p=0.81). The two devices showed the similar efficacy in calcified femoropopliteal lesions.

Twelve-month safety and effectiveness of TCD-17187 drug-coated balloon for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the superficial femoral and proximal popliteal artery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this preapproval trial was to evaluate the 12-month safety and effectiveness of the TCD-17187 drug-coated balloon (DCB) for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and/or proximal popliteal artery (PA). METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, core laboratory adjudicated, single-arm trial. From October 2019 to November 2020, a total of 121 symptomatic peripheral artery disease patients with SFA and/or proximal PA lesions were enrolled. The primary effectiveness endpoint was 12-month primary patency defined as freedom from restenosis as determined by duplex ultrasonography in the absence of clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR). The safety endpoint was the major adverse event (MAE) rate defined as freedom from a composite of device- and procedure-related death within 30 days, and index limb major amputation and/or CD-TLR through follow-up. RESULTS: Average age was 74.5 ± 7.3 years and the frequency of diabetes mellitus was 67.5%. Average lesion length and vessel diameter were 106.0 ± 52.6 and 5.2 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. The frequency of chronic total occlusion and bilateral calcification was 17.5% and 50.8% of patients, respectively. The 12-month primary patency rate calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 81.1%, while 12-month freedom from CD-TLR was 95.8%. The MAE rate at 30 days was 1.7% and all events comprised CD-TLR. There were no instances of device- or procedure-related deaths, major amputations, or thrombosis throughout the 12-month evaluation period. CONCLUSION: This preapproval trial confirmed the safety and effectiveness of TCD-17187 DCB in the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in the SFA and/or proximal PA.

Clinical expert consensus document on standards for lower extremity artery disease of imaging modality from the Japan Endovascular Treatment Conference.

Imaging modalities have developed to provide precise information in the assessment of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD), including both quantitative measurements and morphological assessment. However, a lack of standardization for the evaluation methods introduces inconsistency and potential risk. This consensus document from Japan Endovascular Treatment Conference (JET) summarizes the methods of measurement and assessment of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI), and angioscopy. We propose standardized approaches for the evaluation of these modalities in endovascular therapy (EVT).