Frank D. Kolodgie, Phd Recent Publications
Drug-eluting coronary stents: insights from preclinical and pathology studies.
Abstract
Implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) is the dominant treatment strategy for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. However, the first-generation DES had substantial drawbacks, including delayed healing, local hypersensitivity reactions and neoatherosclerosis, which all led to a steady increase in major adverse cardiovascular events over time. Subsequently, newer-generation DES were introduced with thinner struts, different scaffold designs (to improve deliverability while maintaining radial strength), different durable and biodegradable polymers – and in some cases no polymer (to improve vascular biocompatibility) – and new antiproliferative drug types and doses. Currently, >30 different DES are commercially available in Europe, with fewer available in the USA but with many new entrants coming onto the US market in the next few years. Never before have cardiologists been faced with so many choices of stent, each with its own unique design. In this Review, we detail preclinical and pathology studies for each stent design, examining thromboresistance, speed of neointimal coverage and completeness of healing, including endothelialization. We conclude by discussing how these design characteristics might affect the potential for shortening the minimum duration of dual antiplatelet therapy needed after coronary intervention.
IN.PACT™ Admiral™ drug-coated balloons in peripheral artery disease: current perspectives.
Abstract
Endovascular therapy has evolved as a main treatment option especially in patients with short (<25 cm) femoropopliteal lesion. The latest guideline recommends the use of drug-eluting devices (both drug-coated balloons [DCBs] and drug-eluting stents) in short femoro-popliteal lesions as class IIb recommendation. DCB usage is also recommended for in-stent restenosis lesions (class IIb). DCBs are a more attractive treatment option because the lack of metal prosthesis allows for more flexibility in future treatment options including the option of treating nonstenting zones, previously DCB-treated zones with DCBs again. The IN.PACT™ Admiral™ DCB has shown promising clinical performance in several randomized control trials and global registries, and is currently the market DCB leader for the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions with more than 200,000 patients treated thus far. Currently, more than 10 DCBs have received Conformité Européene mark for the treatment of femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease. Three of these (including IN.PACT Admiral DCBs) have also received Food and Drug Administration approval in the USA. However, some Conformité Européene-marked DCBs have failed to show consistent results in their clinical studies suggesting all DCBs are not created equal. Each DCB is unique (ie, drug type, drug dose, crystallinity, and excipient) with different clinical outcomes. In the current review, we will focus on the preclinical and clinical results of not only IN.PACT Admiral DCB, but also the other currently available DCBs.