Vasculitis resulting from a superficial femoral artery angioplasty with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 520 - 523
• Main Authors: Thomas, Shannon D., FRACS, McDonald, Robert R.A., FACD, Varcoe, Ramon L., MS, FRACS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01-02-2014
• Subjects: Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon - adverse effects; Angioplasty, Balloon - instrumentation; Biopsy; Cardiovascular Agents - administration & dosage; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Female; Femoral Artery - physiopathology; Humans; Intermittent Claudication - diagnosis; Intermittent Claudication - physiopathology; Intermittent Claudication - therapy; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Access Devices; Vascular Patency; Vasculitis - diagnosis; Vasculitis - etiology; Vasculitis - therapy
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2013.03.013

Drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) coated with the antiproliferative agent paclitaxel may improve primary patency by reducing recurrent luminal stenosis. A proportion of the active drug and excipient coating are known to embolize distally, but until now, there have been no reports of adverse events resulting from their use. We report an unusual case of a painful nodular, biopsy specimen-proven vasculitic rash that afflicted the ipsilateral lower limb of a patient after superficial femoral artery treatment with a DEB. This adverse event may have implications for the use of DEB in this and other vascular territories.