The inhibition effect of novel drug-eluting balloon on obstructive peripheral arterial disease of lower extremity: an experimental study in rabbit models

Objective: To investigate the possible inhibition effect of a domestic novel drug-eluting balloon (DEB), such as controlling the vascular stenosis and reducing the intimal hyperplasia, on obstructive peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremity. Methods: Male New Zealand rabbits (weighted 2.5-3.0 kg) were used for this study. Mustang bare metal stents (BMS) were separately implanted at both the proximal and distal site of abdominal aorta to establish the PAD models in rabbits. Bare balloon (PTA group) or drug-eluting balloon (DEB group) was separately used to dilate the stent segment of the aorta. The animals were sacrificed 28 days after the treatment. The aorta stent specimens were collected and sent for pathologic examination. Using Masson staining method the degree of intimal hyperplasia was estimated and the expression level of paclitaxel-targeted (3-tubulin was determined with immunohistochemical method. The results were compared between the two groups. Results: Morphologically, both the degree of intimal hyperplasia and the vascular stenosis rate in DEB group were significantly lower than those in PTA group. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical examination of paclitaxel-targeted 3-tubulin indicated that its expression level in DEB group was obviously higher than that in PTA group. Conclusion: This experimental study indicates that the domestic novel DEB has potential inhibition effect in respect of controlling the loss of lumen as well as reducing the intimal hyperplasia. This novel DEB carries excellent property, suggesting the possibility to use DEB in clinical treatment of PAD. (authors)