Abstract: Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a major endemic disease with an increased prevalence worldwide. LEAD is particularly common in diabetic patients with worse outcomes in clinic, especially 4 to 5times risk of lower limb amputation higher than nondiabetic patients. The main artery lesion is below the knee. LEAD is the main cause of diabetic foot. It is involved in whole progression of diabetic foot and affected clinical end point. Revascularization is needed in high proportion of diabetic patients with LEAD.Percutaneous transluminalangiography (PTA) has achieved substantial development because of safety and less damage on tissue in recent years. However, we have to face pivotal issues or important limitations which are restenosis and reocclusion. The concept of drugcoated balloon (DCB) is based on the combination of balloon angioplasty and local drug delivery, without the permanent implantation of any endovascular devices. Application of DCB may reduce prevalence of restenosis and reocclusion which can further affect longterm prognosis. This review summarized clinical characteristics of DCB based on evidence from numerous basic and clinical researches.

Key words: diabetes, mellitus, lower extremity arterial disease, angiography, drug coated balloon