Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A post hoc analysis of the AGENT IDE trial found that among patients treated with the Agent drug-coated balloon (DCB) for in-stent restenosis, very few factors predicted target lesion failure at 2 years — and only one was modifiable. The key takeaway: the better the lesion preparation, the lower the risk of failure. Cardiologists are urged to prioritize optimal vessel prep, ideally guided by intravascular imaging.
A new post hoc analysis of the landmark AGENT IDE trial sheds light on what drives treatment failure after using the Agent drug-coated balloon (DCB) for in-stent restenosis (ISR). Researchers found that at 2-year follow-up, the overall target lesion failure (TLF) rate was 27% — and only three independent predictors emerged, with just one being actionable by the operator.
That modifiable factor? In-lesion percent diameter stenosis after lesion preparation. The less thoroughly a vessel is prepped before DCB deployment, the more likely the patient is to end up back in the cath lab. The finding reinforces the critical role of intravascular imaging — used in 70% of AGENT IDE cases — to guide adequate lesion preparation.
Key Takeaways
Why it matters: With Agent DCB now widely adopted in US practice, understanding who's most at risk for treatment failure helps cardiologists tailor strategies — from choosing between DCB and drug-eluting stents to knowing when to convert mid-procedure.
