Backgrounds: Drug coated balloons (DCBs) are new on stented-based anti-proliferative drug delivery
systems, recently introduced in interventional cardiology. Their primary aim is to transfer an anti-proliferative
drug to reduce the subsequent neo-intima hyperplasia and to maintain the normal vessel diameter and function.
Methods:
A review of the most recent influential studies about DCBs in all the fields of interventional cardiology
has been performed.
Results:
As demonstrated by different studies, DCBs have different theoretical advantages over Drug Eluting
Stents (DESs), especially for the treatment of some endovascular lesions, as In-Stent Restenosis (ISR), coronary
bifurcations, small vessels disease and peripheral artery disease at femoropopliteal and below the knee sites.
Conclusion:
Despite the need of further studies are needed to elucidate the optimal use of DCBs their current use
in interventional cardiology appears promising.