Recurrence patterns and clinical outcomes following paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal artery disease: Results of the CRESCENT study

Background: Paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) are widely used for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) diseases. However, data on recurrence and recurrence patterns after PCB angioplasty are limited. This study investigated the association between recurrence patterns, baseline characteristics, and clinical outcomes in the cases following PCB angioplasty. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 1159 limbs in 1031 patients treated for de novo FPA lesions using PCBs. Patients were classified into three groups (patency, restenosis, and reocclusion) according to patency or recurrence patterns within 2 years after the index PCB angioplasty. The primary outcome was the incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR), and the secondary outcome was the pattern of re-recurrence within 2 years following TLR using PCBs. Results: When comparing the three groups, reocclusive cases were characterized by more complex lesions, including chronic total occlusion, at baseline. Following the index PCB angioplasty, approximately 70% of recurrent cases underwent TLR, which was performed more frequently in reocclusive than in restenotic cases (82.1% vs 63.7%). Conversely, a higher percentage of restenotic cases did not require TLR compared to reocclusive cases (10.3% vs 27.8%). In cases where TLR was performed using PCBs, the rate of re-recurrence with occlusive morphology was significantly higher in reocclusive than in restenotic cases (52.3% vs 24.3%). Conclusions: After PCB angioplasty for FPA lesions, symptomatic recurrence and requirement for TLR were more frequent in reocclusive cases. Even after TLR using PCBs, reocclusive cases tend to recur with occlusion.