Background Use of atherectomy for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is increasing as an adjunctive treatment to either conventional or drug‐coated balloon angioplasty. There is limited data on atherectomy outcomes in below‐the‐knee (BTK) endovascular interventions. Methods Data from the multicenter Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) registry (NCT01904851) were analyzed to examine predictors of atherectomy use and its associated 1‐year patency rate. We analyzed 518 BTK procedures performed between January 2005 and December 2016. Results Overall a total of 518 BTK procedures were treated in 430 patients, and 43% of interventions used atherectomy. African American patients were less likely (13% vs 25%; |standard residual| = 3.41) to be treated with atherectomy. Use of atherectomy was lower in chronic total occlusive (CTO) lesions (48% vs 58%; P = 0.02). There were no significant associations of baseline comorbidities, critical limb ischemia (CLI), ankle‐brachial index, number of BTK vessel run‐off, or vessel location with atherectomy use. Compared with patients without atherectomy, use of atherectomy was associated with lower incidence of repeat target limb intervention at 1 year after adjusting for age, CLI, in‐stent restenosis, heavy calcification, presence of diffuse disease, and CTO lesion traits (Hazard Ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.23‐0.72; P < 0.01). Conclusions Compared with no atherectomy, use of atherectomy in BTK interventions is associated with lower rates of 1‐year repeat target limb revascularization. These findings require confirmation in prospective, randomized clinical studies.

Background: Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are removed by extracorporeal filtration during LDL apheresis. It is mainly used in familial hyperlipidemia. The PREMIER trial (Plaque Regression and Progenitor Cell Mobilization With Intensive Lipid Elimination Regimen) evaluated LDL apheresis in nonfamilial hyperlipidemia acute coronary syndrome patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: We randomized 160 acute coronary syndrome patients at 4 Veterans Affairs centers within 72 hours of percutaneous coronary intervention to intensive lipid-lowering therapy (ILLT) comprising single LDL apheresis and statins versus standard medical therapy (SMT) with no LDL apheresis and statin therapy alone. Trial objectives constituted primary safety and primary efficacy end points and endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming unit mobilization in peripheral blood. Results: Mean LDL reduction at discharge was 53% in ILLT and 17% in SMT groups ( P <0.0001) from baseline levels of 116.3±34.3 and 110.7±32 mg/dL ( P =0.2979), respectively. The incidence of the primary safety end point of major peri-percutaneous coronary intervention adverse events was similar in both groups (ILLT, 3; SMT, 0). The primary efficacy end point, percentage change in total plaque volume at 90 days by intravascular ultrasound, on average decreased by 4.81% in the ILLT group and increased by 2.31% in the SMT group (difference of means, −7.13 [95% CI, −14.59 to 0.34]; P =0.0611). The raw change in total plaque volume on average decreased more in the ILLT group than in the SMT group (−6.01 versus −0.95 mm 3 ; difference of means, −5.06 [95% CI, −11.61 to 1.48]; P =0.1286). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for participating sites, age, preexisting coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, baseline LDL levels, and baseline plaque burden. There was robust endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming unit mobilization from baseline to 90 days in the ILLT group ( P =0.0015) but not in SMT ( P =0.0844). Conclusions: PREMIER is the first randomized clinical trial to demonstrate safety and a trend for early coronary plaque regression with LDL apheresis in nonfamilial hyperlipidemia acute coronary syndrome patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01004406 and NCT02347098.

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