Study Comparing Two Methods of Expanding Stents Placed in Legs of Diabetics With Peripheral Vascular Disease

Overview

Despite recent advances in stent technology and its widespread application in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), incidences of partial or complete blockage of stent lumen (in-stent restenosis) due to in growth of cells (neo-intimal proliferation) is unacceptably high. In diabetics with long superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions, in-stent restenosis rates are higher than in non-diabetics. Consequently interventional techniques that curtail in-stent restenosis have to be explored. Cryoplasty is a stent expansion method in which a balloon is expanded using pressurized nitrous oxide gas. As the nitrous oxide expands in the balloon it cools the surroundings to about -10 degrees C. This induces programed death (apoptosis) of the smooth muscle cells in arterial wall. The investigators hypothesize that Cryoplasty, by inducing an apoptotic smooth muscle cell response, when applied to post-dilation of nitinol self-expanding stents in the Superficial Femoral Artery (SFA) of diabetics, would lead to decreased in-stent restenosis due to decreased neointimal proliferation.

The pre-recruitment process would identify diabetics who have life-style limiting claudication in their legs. Based on the physicians decision such patients may have to undergo a peripheral vascular intervention of the SFA, with placement of self-expanding nitinol stents. If such a decision is made, the patient will be randomized to either cryoplasty balloon post-dilation of the stent or to conventional angioplasty balloon post-dilation after obtaining informed consent. At one year, in segment (stent + 10 mm beyond its proximal and distal edges) peak systolic velocity by duplex ultrasound will be measured in all subjects to assess the rate of binary restenosis defined as a \> or = 2.5 times increase in peak systolic velocity (primary endpoint). A 6 month resting ankle brachial index, and binary restenosis may be assessed as a secondary endpoint of the study.