Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to drug-eluting stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), offering the advantage of local drug delivery without permanent vascular scaffold implantation. Initially developed for managing in-stent restenosis, DCBs se...

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Main Authors: Zaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori, Marco Frazzetto, Shamin Hayat Mahmud, Wasfi Alghwyeen, Bernardo Cortese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/5/194
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author Zaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori
Marco Frazzetto
Shamin Hayat Mahmud
Wasfi Alghwyeen
Bernardo Cortese
author_facet Zaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori
Marco Frazzetto
Shamin Hayat Mahmud
Wasfi Alghwyeen
Bernardo Cortese
author_sort Zaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori
collection DOAJ
description Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to drug-eluting stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), offering the advantage of local drug delivery without permanent vascular scaffold implantation. Initially developed for managing in-stent restenosis, DCBs seem appealing for broader indications, particularly in small vessel disease and bifurcation lesions. While paclitaxel-based DCBs remain the most investigated, newer limus formulations are showing promise and appear to be a valid alternative in early trials. Evidence from recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses highlights DCBs as a safe and effective option in selected patients, with potential benefits including lower restenosis rates, reduced need for dual antiplatelet therapy, and avoidance of late stent-related complications. As new large-scale trials near completion, DCBs are poised to take on a broader role in the treatment of CAD, particularly in patients where “leaving nothing behind” offers a clinical advantage. This review offers an overview of the DCB platforms commercially available, showing pharmacological differences, providing current indications in practical guidelines, and analyzing the most recent and impactful RCTs and meta-analyses in the field.
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spelling doaj-art-37969b6c357b4ef28ef7b3aaf5cf979e2025-08-20T01:56:24ZengMDPI AGJournal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease2308-34252025-05-0112519410.3390/jcdd12050194Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming NoveltiesZaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori0Marco Frazzetto1Shamin Hayat Mahmud2Wasfi Alghwyeen3Bernardo Cortese4Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USAHarrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USAHarrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USAAl-Nadeem Hospital, Ministry of Health, Amman 11118, JordanHarrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USADrug-coated balloons (DCBs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to drug-eluting stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), offering the advantage of local drug delivery without permanent vascular scaffold implantation. Initially developed for managing in-stent restenosis, DCBs seem appealing for broader indications, particularly in small vessel disease and bifurcation lesions. While paclitaxel-based DCBs remain the most investigated, newer limus formulations are showing promise and appear to be a valid alternative in early trials. Evidence from recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses highlights DCBs as a safe and effective option in selected patients, with potential benefits including lower restenosis rates, reduced need for dual antiplatelet therapy, and avoidance of late stent-related complications. As new large-scale trials near completion, DCBs are poised to take on a broader role in the treatment of CAD, particularly in patients where “leaving nothing behind” offers a clinical advantage. This review offers an overview of the DCB platforms commercially available, showing pharmacological differences, providing current indications in practical guidelines, and analyzing the most recent and impactful RCTs and meta-analyses in the field.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/5/194DCBdrug-coated balloonscoronary artery diseasePCI
spellingShingle Zaid Mohammad Fahmi Shahrori
Marco Frazzetto
Shamin Hayat Mahmud
Wasfi Alghwyeen
Bernardo Cortese
Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
DCB
drug-coated balloons
coronary artery disease
PCI
title Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
title_full Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
title_fullStr Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
title_full_unstemmed Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
title_short Drug-Coated Balloons: Recent Evidence and Upcoming Novelties
title_sort drug coated balloons recent evidence and upcoming novelties
topic DCB
drug-coated balloons
coronary artery disease
PCI
url https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/5/194
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AT shaminhayatmahmud drugcoatedballoonsrecentevidenceandupcomingnovelties
AT wasfialghwyeen drugcoatedballoonsrecentevidenceandupcomingnovelties
AT bernardocortese drugcoatedballoonsrecentevidenceandupcomingnovelties