Drug-eluting stents in the management of peripheral arterial disease

Abstract

Since major meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in interventional cardiology showed the potential of drug-eluting stents in decreasing restenosis and reintervention rates after coronary artery stenting, one of the next steps in the treatment of arterial occlusive disease is the transfer of the active coating technology towards peripheral arterial interventions. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a literature overview on available peripheral (lower limb, renal, and supra-aortic) drug-eluting stent applications, debate the cost implications, and give recommendations for future treatment strategies.

Keywords:

• critical limb ischemia
• drug-eluting stent
• below the knee
• infrapopliteal
• crural
• limb salvage

Acknowledgements

The authors take great pleasure in thanking the staff of Flanders Medical Research Program (http://www.fmrp.be), in particular Koen De Meester, who performed the systematic review of the literature and provided substantial support during the writing of the article. The authors report no conflicts of interest.