Background and Objectives: The popliteal artery is generally regarded as a "no-stent zone". Limited data are available on the outcomes of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for popliteal artery disease. This study aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes among patients who received DCB treatment for atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease.
Methods: This prospective, multicenter registry study enrolled 100 patients from 7 Korean endovascular centers who underwent endovascular therapy using IN.PACT DCB (Medtronic) for symptomatic atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease. The primary endpoint was 12-month clinical primary patency and the secondary endpoint was clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free rate.
Results: The mean age of the study cohort was 65.7±10.8 years, and 77% of enrolled patients were men. The mean lesion length was 93.7±53.7 mm, and total occlusions were present in 45% of patients. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Combined atherectomy was performed in 17% and provisional stenting was required in 11%. Out of the enrolled patients, 91 patients completed the 12-month follow-up. Clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival rates at 12 months were 76.0% and 87.2%, respectively. A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified female and longer lesion length as the significant independent predictors of loss of patency.
Conclusions: DCB treatment yielded favorable 12-month clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival outcomes in patients with popliteal artery disease.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02698345.
Competing Interests: Dr. Ko and Dr. Choi received research grants from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Samjin Pharm, Korea United Pharm, Dong-A Pharm, and Otsuka, Korea. None of these companies, including Medtronic, were involved in developing the study protocols or procedures for the K-POP study. All other authors report no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper.
(Copyright © 2024. The Korean Society of Cardiology.)