Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Stent Angioplasty in Patients with Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke, particularly in high-risk populations. Endovascular treatment options, including drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty and stent angioplasty (SA), have been explored as alternatives for patients with severe stenosis or refractory symptoms. However, the comparative efficacy and safety of these interventions remain a topic of debate.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science up to December 2024. Studies comparing DCB to SA were included. Outcomes analyzed were symptomatic restenosis, overall restenosis rates, and recurrent ischemic events.

Results: Three studies with 213 patients met the inclusion criteria. DCB was associated with significantly lower rates of overall restenosis (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10-0.50, I2 = 0%,p < 0.001) and recurrent ischemic events (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.63, I2 = 0%,p = 0.006). There was no statistically significant disparity between both methods concerning symptomatic restenosis (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.09-1.24, I2 = 0%, p = 0.101).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that DCB angioplasty may be safer and more effective than SA for ICAD, with lower rates of restenosis and ischemic complications. However, the evidence is primarily based on observational studies, highlighting the need for multicenter randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols to establish further the comparative efficacy and long-term outcomes between DCB and SA in patients with ICAD.