[Correlation and predictive value analysis of iliac artery calcification score and restenosis of lower extremity arteries after drug-coated balloon combined with stent implantation in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease].

Objective: To analyze the correlation between iliac artery calcification score and restenosis of lower extremity arteries in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease (LEASO) who underwent drug-coated balloon (DCB) combined with stenting, and to assess the predictive value. Methods: A total of 105 patients with LEASO at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medicine School, from January 2018 to June 2023 were retrospectively included, and the patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether restenosis of the original lower limb arteries had occurred during follow-up after DCB combined stent implantation: the restenosis group (n=64) and the patency group (n=41). The clinical information of the study subjects was collected through the electronic case system, and all patients underwent CTA examination of both lower limb arteries before the operation, and the calcification scores of common iliac arteries and external iliac arteries of patients' bilateral and stenotic sides were calculated according to the results of the CTA examination. The follow-up time [M (Q₁, Q₃)] was 9.15 (5.67, 15.60) months in the patency group and 9.20 (6.85, 19.65) months in the restenosis group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors associated with restenosis after DCB combined with stent implantation in LEASO patients. The predictive value of iliac artery calcification score for postoperative restenosis was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: There were 44 males and 20 females in the restenosis group, aged (73±9) years; 31 males and 10 females in the patency group, aged (73±10) years. Compared with the patency group, the restenosis group had higher neutrophil counts, platelet counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR), C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, stent lengths, stent numbers, common iliac artery calcification scores (bilateral and stenotic side), and external iliac artery calcification scores (bilateral and stenotic side) (all P<0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that higher external iliac artery calcification score on the stenotic side (OR=1.480, 95%CI: 1.130-1.939, P=0.004) was an associated factor for restenosis of the lower extremity arteries after DCB combined with stenting.ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of the external iliac artery calcification score on the stenotic side was 5.5 score, the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting restenosis of lower extremity arteries after DCB combined stent implantation in LEASO patients was 0.818 (95%CI: 0.731-0.904, P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 85.4% and a specificity of 68.8%. Conclusions: An elevated calcification score of the external iliac artery on the stenotic side is a correlate of restenosis of the lower extremity arteries after DCB combined stenting in patients with LEASO. With a cut-off value of 5.5 points, its sensitivity for predicting restenosis of the lower extremity arteries after DCB combined stenting is 85.4%, and its specificity is 68.8%.