Paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty for recurrent arteriovenous fistula stenosis

We read with interest the investigator-led Paclitaxel-assisted balloon Angioplasty of Venous stenosis in hEmodialysis access (PAVE) trial by Karunanithy et  al., evaluating the efficacy of paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) in arteriovenous fistula (AVF).1 In contrast to a recently published large-scale randomized controlled trial by Lookstein et al.,2 the PAVE trial failed to demonstrate a difference in the treatment effect of PCBs versus standard ba lloons for AVF stenosis. The authors attributed this observation to the different PCB used in the study, which has a different excipient and paclitaxel dose, and a possible confounder of a shorter balloon inflation time.
Source: Kidney International - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research