Balloon treatment aims to defuse 'Time Bomb' plaques in heart arteries

NCT ID NCT04765956

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a drug-coated balloon can stabilize fatty plaques in heart arteries that are at risk of rupturing and causing a heart attack. Researchers treated 45 patients with a recent heart condition, using a special balloon to deliver medication directly to the plaque. The goal was to see if the plaque becomes less dangerous over 9 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: drug-eluting balloon (a balloon coated with an antiproliferative drug)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to treat vulnerable plaques before they cause a heart attack, potentially reducing future cardiac events.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 45 participants and no control group, so results may not apply broadly. The treatment itself carries risks like artery dissection or need for emergency stenting.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute coronary syndrome coronary artery disorder Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Amsterdam UMC, location AMC

Amsterdam, 1105AZ, Netherlands

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