Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate 12-month effectiveness of the endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal (FP) atherosclerotic lesions with the Ranger drug-coated balloon (DCB) in a real-world setting.
Methods: In this prospective, observational, multicenter trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02462005) 172 consecutive patients with 226 de novo, restenosed, or reoccluded native superficial femoral and/or popliteal artery lesions were treated with the Ranger paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty. Mean lesion length was 129 mm (5-400 mm). Fifty-nine (26%) of 226 lesions were moderately or heavily calcified. Provisional stenting was conducted in 55 (22%) of 226 lesions. Main effectiveness outcomes were procedural success, 6- and 12-month hemodynamic or clinical improvement, and primary patency based and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 6 and 12 months.
Results: Procedural success (<30% residual stenosis and no major adverse event within 30 days) was achieved in 126 (73%) of 172 patients with DCB alone and in all patients if bailout procedures were included. Primary patency was 91.0% at 6 months and 84.1% at 12 months. Freedom TLR was 92.4% at 6 months and 89.2% at 12 months. ABI, pain-free walking distance and Rutherford category improved significantly (P<0.001) after 6 and 12 months.
Conclusions: Results suggest that angioplasty with the Ranger paclitaxel-coated balloon with provisional stenting is efficacious for the treatment of a broad range of femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions. No safety concerns arose.