Effects of Drug-Coated Balloon Therapy on CT Imaging Results and Levels of Vascular Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Arteriosclerosis Obliterans Lesions

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to explore the effects of drug-coated balloon (DCB) therapy on computed tomography (CT) imaging results and levels of vascular inflammatory cytokines in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) lesions. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with ASO lesions admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021 were enrolled. According to the random number table method, they were divided into observation groups (n = 100) and control groups (n = 100). The observation group was treated with DCB, while the control group was treated with ordinary balloon. At 1 month after surgery, the clinical curative effect was evaluated by ankle-brachial index (ABI). The image quality was compared and vascular patency was evaluated by arterial ultrasound and CT angiography. The minimum luminal diameter (MLD) and late luminal loss (LLL) were recorded. Before and at 1 month after surgery, the severity of disease was assessed by Rutherford grading of lower limb ischemia. Before, at 7 d and 1 month after surgery, inflammatory factors [serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded. RESULTS: The clinical response rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (97.00% vs 89.00%) (P < 0.05). The restenosis rate in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.00% vs 7.00%) (P < 0.05). The MLD in the observation group was significantly longer than that in the control group, and the LLL was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in image quality between the two groups (P > 0.05). After surgery, disease severity in both groups was relieved, which was milder in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). At 7 d and 1 month after surgery, levels of MMP-9, MCP-1, hs-CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 in both groups were decreased, which were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (6.00% vs 7.00%) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The curative effect of DCB is good on patients with ASO lesions, which can reduce the restenosis rate, control luminal loss, relieve inflammatory response, and improve disease severity.