Heart disease occurs when plaque builds up within artery walls blocking the blood flow through tissues in the body, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
While there is no singular cure for heart disease, there are numerous forms of treatment including lifestyle changes and surgical procedures. In one procedure called a coronary angioplasty, a surgeon inserts and inflates a tiny balloon inside a blocked or narrow artery to widen it and allow blood to flow through to the heart thereby decreasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
This procedure often includes inserting a permanent small mesh tube to support the blood vessel called a stent. Commercial stents can release chemotherapy agents that are toxic and can cause the blood vessel to narrow again.
“By delivering red wine antioxidants during conventional angioplasty, it may be possible to prevent excess tissue from building up and the blood vessel from narrowing again as it heals,” said Tammy Dugas, from Louisiana State University in the US.
In addition to the stent, the researchers are developing a balloon coated with the same compounds to treat blood flow blockages throughout the body called peripheral artery disease. Drug-coated balloons are a relatively new product, and are being developed to help interventional cardiologists treat arteries that are difficult to target with traditional angioplasty and stent treatments.
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