The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter Jan. 17, 2019, to healthcare providers regarding a recent publication that suggests a possible increased risk of death at two years and beyond in patients treated for a type of peripheral artery disease (PAD) with paclitaxel-coated balloons or paclitaxel-eluting stents. The letter was issued in response to a recent publication in the Journal of the American Heart Association identifying the risk. It recommends doctors continue to monitor these patients, and discuss the benefits and risks of all available treatment options for patients with PAD.
