Stents Versus PAclitaxel Coated Balloons for Revascularization of CompleX and Small Coronary Vessels (SPARX) Trial

PCI with DES remains a cornerstone of interventional cardiology for the treatment of coronary artery disease. While DES have significantly improved outcomes compared to plain old angioplasty (POBA) and metal stents, there is still a risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and stent thrombosis (ST). To overcome these problems, non-stent techniques using only DCBs have emerged as a way of delivering anti-proliferative drugs to the vessel wall without the need for a permanent implant. It is hypothesised that this approach may promote positive remodelling and reduce the risk of vessel thrombosis and restenosis.

The use of PCI with DCB alone was first investigated for the treatment of ISR, where it showed good results and is currently recommended in guidelines for the treatment of ISR. There have also been several DCB trials in de novo coronary lesions, but the results have been more mixed. Many DCBs are now commercially available, both with paclitaxel and sirolimus coating, and it appears that there is no "class effect" due to the heterogeneity that exists within balloon designs, polymer coating, type of drug and concentrations used.

One of the first trials in de novo lesions, the PICCOLETO trial, was stopped early due to a higher MACE rate in the DCB group compared to the DES group. However, several weaknesses of the study may explain the worse outcome in those treated with DCBs compared to DES. The most important was probably the low dose of paclitaxel delivered by the balloon and the fact that only a small percentage of the population underwent lesion predilatation. Several studies have later shown non-inferiority of DCB to DES for de novo lesions, and the method is currently embraced by the interventional cardiology community.

Several DCBs are now available and approved for use, and more are on the way, but head-to-head data are scarce. The SPARX trial is designed to compare two DCBs, Protégé™ and Agent™, with conventional DES PCI in complex and small coronary lesions, with the idea that this type of coronary disease may benefit from a DCB-only technique. The trial will also compare the two certified and well-established paclitaxel-coated balloons, Protégé™ and Agent™. The hypothesis is that Protégé™ will perform at least as well as Agent™.

The primary objective of the SPARX trial is to compare paclitaxel-coated balloons with contemporary DES in complex and small coronary artery lesions in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) or chronic coronary syndrome (CCS); The co-primary objective is to compare 2 different paclitaxel-coated balloons, Protégé™ and Agent™, with each other.

Clinical inclusion criteria:

• Age≥18 years
• Patient with NSTE-ACS or CCS with either symptoms and/or ischemia on non-invasive or invasive testing (i.e. FFR/iFR, CMR, SPECT, PET-CT or stress-echo)
• The patient must be able to understand and provide written informed consent and comply with all study procedures
• Life expectancy of > 2 years

Angiographic inclusion criteria:

• One or more trial target vessel (LAD, CX or RCA, or of their branches) with:

• Stenosis of ≥70% or
• Stenosis ≥50% and <70% (visually assessed) with evidence of ischemia by positive stress test, or FFR ≤0.80, or iFR <0.90 or IVUS minimum lumen area ≤4.0 mm2
• The target vessel/target lesion matches at least one of the following criteria

• Small vessel: vessel reference diameter is ≤ 3 mm
• Long lesions: length ≥ 25 mm
• Calcified lesion: grade 3 by angiography or confirmed on intravascular imaging
• Chronic total occlusion (CTO)
• Bifurcation lesions, including ostial LAD and ostial CX
• Lesions in diabetic coronary artery disease
• In-Stent Restenosis (ISR)
• Lesion preparation must be according to the 3rd DCB consensus, with lesions that have:

• ≤ 30% residual stenosis
• TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) flow grade 3.
• The absence of flow-limiting dissection (Type A-C allowed only)

Clinical exclusion criteria:

• STEMI or cardiogenic shock related to an acute MI within 2 days prior to the index PCI
• Pregnancy or nursing declarations (As per country specific guideline) (a negative pregnancy test is required of women with child-bearing potential within 7 days prior to enrollment)
• LVEF<30%
• Known contraindication or hypersensitivity to any limus family drugs, paclitaxel, or to medications such as heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, prasugrel and ticagrelor or any component of the devices.
• Allergy to imaging contrast media which cannot be adequately pre-medicated
• Stroke/TIA during the last 6 months, or any prior intracranial hemorrhage
• Active peptic ulcer or upper gastrointestinal bleeding within last 6 months
• Known renal insufficiency with an eGFR<30 ml/min1.73m2, or subject on dialysis, or acute renal failure (as per physician judgment)
• Planned surgery within 6 months with the necessity to stop DAPT
• History of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
• Platelet count<100.000 cells/mm3 or >400.000 cells/mm3, a WBC of <3000 cells/mm3, documented or suspected liver disease (including laboratory evidence of hepatitis)
• Patient is a recipient of a heart transplant
• Participation in another investigation with an investigational drug or another MD within the 30 days preceding and during the present investigation

Angiographic exclusion criteria:

• Target lesion is in the left main coronary artery
• Target lesion is in a coronary artery bypass graft
• Flow limiting target vessel thrombus
• Evidence of aneurysm in target vessel within 10 mm of the target lesion
• Aorto-ostial target lesion (within 3 mm of the aorta junction)