Research In Brief

Drug-coated angioplasty balloon: Percutaneous treatment of femoropopliteal disease with paclitaxel-coated angioplasty balloons was associated with reduced six-month lumen loss and target-lesion revascularization rates compared to regular angioplasty balloons in the 154-patient randomized THUNDER trial sponsored by Bavaria Medizintechnologie and Schering. Results appear in the Feb. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. THUNDER is a small preliminary study and larger trials are needed to confirm the benefits of drug-coated balloons, according to authors Gunnar Tepe, M.D., University of Tübingen, et al