Application of drug-coated balloons for intracranial atherosclerosis disease: a systematic review

●High rate of restenosis remained a major issue for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) in severe intracranial atherosclerosis disease (ICAD).●In order to reduce the incidence of restenosis, in the past decade, angioplasty with drug-coated balloon (DCB) was developed for ICAD.●Incidence of periprocedural complications and technical failure was low in ICAD patients with DCB angioplasty.●Arterial dissection and elastic recoil were the major issues that should be noticed in the application of DCB in ICAD.●Angioplasty with DCB appears to be effective and safe in severe ICAD and it might become a promising alternative treatment for ICAD.