SCORE-CUT methods paper published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions
The SCORE-CUT methods paper has been published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, outlining the rationale and design of a prospective multicentre randomized study investigating how best to prepare coronary lesions before drug-coated balloon angioplasty. Drug-coated balloons provide a “metal-free” alternative to drug-eluting stents, but successful treatment depends heavily on preparing the vessel adequately before the balloon is delivered. SCORE-CUT directly compares three commonly used strategies — non-compliant, scoring and cutting balloons — to determine which achieves the greatest improvement in vessel lumen before DCB treatment.
The trial is being conducted across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and plans to enrol 198 patients with de novo coronary lesions. Patients are randomized 1:1:1 to one of the three preparation strategies, with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) performed before and after lesion preparation. The primary endpoint is the change in minimum lumen area measured by IVUS and assessed by an independent blinded core laboratory. A key strength of the study is its use of mandatory intravascular imaging. Rather than relying solely on angiography, SCORE-CUT uses IVUS to provide a more precise assessment of how effectively each balloon modifies the lesion and enlarges the vessel.
The study is designed to address an important evidence gap in contemporary drug-coated balloon angioplasty and may help standardise lesion preparation strategies for patients undergoing scaffold-free coronary intervention.