Drug-coated balloon vs. stent for high-risk heart disease
Part of Heart & circulation clinical trials.
This trial compares two treatments for people with complex coronary artery disease who have high-risk conditions or complicated blockages: a drug-coated balloon (DCB) versus a drug-eluting stent (DES). Both are ways to open up narrowed arteries and keep them open without surgery.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You are 18 years or older.
- You have angina (chest pain) or signs of reduced blood flow to the heart, or had a recent heart attack (more than 48 hours ago) that is stable.
- You have either high-risk conditions (like diabetes, age over 75, kidney disease, recent heart attack, or high bleeding risk) OR your blockages are in multiple arteries, a branch point, very long, or need special calcium treatment.
- Each blockage must be at least 2 mm wide and suitable for either a drug-coated balloon or a drug-eluting stent.
- You are not pregnant, not allergic to required medications (like aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, contrast dye), and can commit to follow-up visits.
- You have not had a stent placed in the same vessel before, or if you did, it was over 30 days ago (except for a recent heart attack) and the blockage is not in a bypass graft or completely closed.
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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