Critical limb ischaemia as a main cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a high overall mortality rate, particularly due to cardiovascular morbidity. In an era of decline in cardiovascular diseases and early cardiovascular intervention, non-cardiac diseases seem to have a larger impact on overall mortality. METHODS: From 1997 to 2003, all incident haemodialysis patients in a single centre were enrolled in this prospective study. Those with clinical signs of vascular disease were examined by coronary or peripheral angiographies. Physicians took the patients' medical histories, examined them and followed them up until the end of the study or death. Causes of death were defined by the physicians. RESULTS: In all, 322 patients were enrolled in the study, 38% of whom were diabetic. At the start of dialysis treatment, 38% had coronary artery disease (CAD), defined as >50% stenosis of at least one coronary artery or as definite myocardial infarction, and 14% had critical ischaemia of at least one limb (CLI). In all patients with foot lesions, CLI was defined angiographically, as evidenced by stenosis or rarefication of distal vessels in the legs. Patients who died (n = 121) [due to cardiac causes (n = 25), complications of CLI (n = 22), stroke (n = 10), cachexia following a long-standing, non-malignant disease (n = 6), malignancy (n = 24), infection not related to CLI (n = 18) and other causes (n = 16)] were older (71+/-10 vs 65+/-13 years), more often male [74/121 (61%)] and often diabetic [56/121 (46%)]. CAD was documented in 82/121 (68%). Five-year survivals in patients with no risk and diabetes without CAD or CLI, CAD and CLI were 74%, 73%, 50% and 10%, respectively. Age, CLI and smoking habits independently increased the risk of death (hazard ratios: 1.052, 4.921 and 2.292, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CLI with associated complications is not only an indicator of high mortality in patients with ESRD, but is also one of the main causes of death.     

Prognostic Value of Cardiovascular Screening in Potential Renal Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study

We assessed the outcome of pretransplant cardiac assessment in a single center. Three hundred patients with end-stage renal disease underwent electrocardiogram, Bruce exercise testing (ETT) and ventricular assessment by cardiac MRI. Patients with high index of suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) if indicated. Two hundred and twenty-two patients were accepted onto the renal transplant waiting list; 80 patients were transplanted during the follow-up period and 60 died (7 following transplantation). Successful transplantation was associated with improved survival (mean survival 4.5 ± 0.6 years vs. listed not transplanted 4.1 ± 1.4 years vs. not listed 3.1 ± 1.7 years; p < 0.001). Ninety-nine patients underwent coronary angiography; 65 had normal or low-grade CAD and 34 obstructive CAD. Seventeen patients (5.6%) were treated by PCI. There was no apparent survival difference between patients who underwent PCI or coronary artery bypass graft compared to those who underwent angiography without intervention or no angiography (p = 0.67). Factors associated with nonlisting for renal transplantation included burden of preexisting cardiovascular disease, poor exercise tolerance and severity of CAD. Pretransplant cardiovascular screening provides prognostic information and information that can be used to restrict access to transplantation. However, if the aim is to identify and treat CAD, the benefits are far from clear.     

Renal transplant outcome in high-cardiovascular risk recipients

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the foremost cause of mortality and an important cause of morbidity in renal transplant recipients. The disease burden is likely to increase as older patients are accepted for transplantation. The outcome of these high-CV risk patients after renal transplantation, especially with known pre-transplant coronary artery disease (CAD), has not been studied. Hence, we looked at the CV outcome in patients with known pre-transplant CAD. METHODS: All renal transplants performed between 1998 and 2002 at our center, followed up to 2005, were divided into high- and low-risk groups, based on the presence of one or more of the following: pre-transplant angina, myocardial infarction, and positive coronary angiogram. The two groups were compared for post-transplant cardiac events and patient and graft survival. The factors predictive of post-transplant cardiac events were also determined by Cox-regression multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (10.5%), out of 429, had post-transplant cardiac events; 31.3% in the high risk, and 6.5% in the low-risk group (p = 0.001). Five-yr patient survival was lower in the high-risk group (82.8% vs. 93.1%, p = 0.004), while five-yr overall graft survival and death censored graft survival were statistically not different (74.8% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.08 and 87.3% vs. 90%, p = 0.25). Forty-one percent of patients who were treated with angioplasty plus stenting or bypass graft prior to transplantation had post-transplant cardiac events, as compared with 28% of those without intervention in the high-risk group and 6.5% of patients in the low-risk group (p = 0.001). Age, pre-transplant cardiac disease, arrhythmias, and low-ejection fraction (< or = 40%) were significant independent predictors of post-transplant cardiac events. CONCLUSION: Post-transplant survival of high-CV risk patients (with known CAD) is lower than that of low-risk recipients but remains acceptable. Cardiac interventions may reduce perioperative risk but do not reduce the probability of post-transplant cardiac events to that of low-risk group.     

Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Coronary Artery Calcification in Diabetic and Nondiabetic End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Background/aims: Atherosclerosis, coronary artery calcification, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and left ventricular hypertrophy are the most commonly encountered risk factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the true visceral fat depot of the heart. The relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and EAT was shown in healthy subjects and patients with high risk of CAD. To date, there is not enough data about EAT in diabetic and nondiabetic ESRD patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the EAT and coronary artery calcification score (CACS) in diabetic and nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects. Methods: Sixty ESRD patients (17 diabetic, 43 nondiabetic ESRD patients) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. EAT and CACS were performed by a 64-slice multidetector computed tomography scanner. Results: There were no differences in age, gender, body mass index, predialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, biochemical parameters including serum low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein between healthy subjects, diabetic, and nondiabetic ESRD patients. Total CACSs and EAT measurements were significantly higher in diabetic ESRD patients when compared with nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects. There was statistically significant relationship between EAT and CACS in ESRD patients (p < 0.0001, r = 0.48). Conclusion: In conclusion, we found a significant increase in terms of EAT and CACS in diabetic ESRD patients when compared with nondiabetic ESRD patients and healthy subjects.     

The impact of severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy on survival and renal function of heart transplant recipients – a UK cohort study

Severe acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), is associated with higher mortality postheart transplantation, but its long-term renal consequences are not known. Anonymized data of 3365 patients, who underwent heart transplantation between 1995 and 2017, were retrieved from the UK Transplant Registry. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for severe AKI requiring RRT, Kaplan–Meier analysis to compare survival and renal function deterioration of the RRT and non-RRT groups, and multivariable Cox regression model to identify predicting factors of mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). 26.0% of heart recipients received RRT post-transplant. The RRT group has lower survival rates at all time points, especially in the immediate post-transplant period. However, conditional on 3 months survival, older age, diabetes and coronary heart disease, but not post-transplant RRT, were the risk factors for long-term survival. The predicting factors for ESRD were insulin-dependent diabetes, renal function at transplantation, eGFR decline in the first 3 months post-transplant, post-transplant severe AKI and transplantation era. Severe AKI requiring RRT post-transplant is associated with worse short-term survival, but has no impact on long-term mortality. It also accelerates recipients’ renal function deterioration in the long term.     

Post-liver transplant acute renal failure: factors predicting development of end-stage renal disease

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in 5-50% of patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to determine factors that might predict the development of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients who had ARF after OLT. METHODS: We studied all OLT recipients between 9/1/1988 through 12/31/2000. RESULTS: A total of 1602 patients underwent OLT during the study period. About 350 patients (22%) developed ARF requiring dialysis post-operatively. One hundred and twenty-three (39.8%) died within a year after OLT. Median follow up was 5.8 yr (range 1-12 yr). Forty-three patients (23%) developed ESRD over median of 3.79 yr (range 1-8 yr). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed creatinine levels > 1.7 mg/dL at 1 yr (p < 0.001), cyclosporine as immunosuppression (p = 0.026), and the presence of diabetes pre-OLT (p < 0.001) to be associated with the development of ESRD. The development of ESRD did not decrease patient survival (p = 0.111). ESRD patients who received subsequent kidney transplantation had significantly improved survival rates (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Serum creatinine levels at 1 yr, cyclosporine as immunosuppression, and the presence of diabetes pre-OLT are independent predictive factors for the development of ESRD. ESRD patients who received kidney transplantation had higher 10-yr survival rates when compared with patients maintained on dialysis.     

Impact of MELD-based allocation on end-stage renal disease after liver transplantation

The proportion of patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT), with concomitant renal dysfunction, markedly increased after allocation by the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was introduced. We examined the incidence of subsequent post-LT end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before and after the policy was implemented. Data on all adult deceased donor LT recipients between April 27, 1995 and December 31, 2008 (n = 59 242), from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, were linked with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' ESRD data. Cox regression was used to (i) compare pre-MELD and MELD eras with respect to post-LT ESRD incidence, (ii) determine the risk factors for post-LT ESRD and (iii) quantify the association between ESRD incidence and mortality. Crude rates of post-LT ESRD were 12.8 and 14.5 per 1000 patient-years in the pre-MELD and MELD eras, respectively. Covariate-adjusted post-LT ESRD risk was higher in the MELD era (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.15; p = 0.0049). African American race, hepatitis C, pre-LT diabetes, higher creatinine, lower albumin, lower bilirubin and sodium >141 mmol/L at LT were also significant predictors of post-LT ESRD. Post-LT ESRD was associated with higher post-LT mortality (HR = 3.32; p < 0.0001). The risk of post-LT ESRD, a strong predictor of post-LT mortality, is 15% higher in the MELD era. This study identified potentially modifiable risk factors of post-LT ESRD. Early intervention and modification of these risk factors may reduce the burden of post-LT ESRD.     

尿毒症合并冠心病患者肾移植的经验：（附7例报告）

本文报道我院７例尿毒症合并冠心病患者肾移植的经验。７例中有６例经冠脉造影证实，其中３例狭窄严重（＞７０％）或临床症状明显者先行经皮冠状动脉成形术或冠状动脉旁道移植术，１例合并高度房室传导阻滞而安装体内永久性起搏器。６例患者移植肾分别存活大于８、１０、１１、１７、３４和３个月。我们认为对冠状动脉严重狭窄（＞７０％）者应先行冠状动脉成形术／旁道移植术；而对冠状动脉狭窄较轻（＜７０％）或隐性冠心病患者可在充分术前准备条件下行肾移植。     

Association Between Attributed Cause of End-Stage Renal Disease and Risk of Death in Brazilian Patients Receiving Renal Replacement Therapy

Background. Studies conducted in several countries have indicated that the survival of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) depends on the attributed cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objectives. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between attributed cause of ESRD and mortality risk in RRT patients in Brazil. Methods. We analyzed 88,881 patients from the Brazilian Ministry of Health Registry who were undergoing RRT between April 1997 and July 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of death in patients with ESRD secondary to diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and primary glomerulopathies (GN) compared with a reference group comprised of patients with ESRD caused by hypertensive nephropathy. Patient's age, gender, and length of time (years) in RRT before inclusion in the registry (vintage) were included in the adjusted Cox model. Results. Compared with the reference group, the mortality risk was 27% lower in patients with PKD (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.65–0.83, p< 0.0001); 29% lower in patients with GN (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.68–0.74, p< 0.0001); and 100% greater in DM patients (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.92–2.10, p< 0.0001). These relative risks remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, gender, and length of time in RRT before inclusion in the registry. Conclusions. Our data indicate that compared with the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis as attributed cause of ESRD, patients undergoing RRT in Brazil with idiopathic glomerulopathy and polycystic kidney disease have a lower risk of mortality, and patients with diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of mortality.     

Angiographic progression of coronary artery disease in patients with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). The cardiovascular mortality of dialysis patients is 10-15 times higher compared with the general population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the morphological progression of coronary arteriosclerosis in this cardiovascular high-risk group by visual assessment and quantitative coronary angiography. Methods and results. In 26 patients with chronic renal failure (age, 47+/-11 years; 15 male; duration of dialysis, 23+/-25 months) the severity of CAD and degree of coronary stenoses were assessed in two coronary angiograms after a mean follow-up interval of 30+/-15 months (12-60). Baseline angiography revealed CAD in 13/22 patients (59%). The second angiography was performed as screening procedure prior to renal transplantation (n=20) and/or as follow-up angiography after coronary angioplasty (n=10). Visual assessment showed a progression defined by the development of haemodynamically relevant stenosis of >50% luminal diameter in 13 patients. Quantitative angiographic evaluation was performed in a total of 45 segments showing >25% narrowing at the second angiogram. A progression (>15% luminal reduction) was found in 17 of 45 segments, a new lesion (initial luminal diameter <20%) was detected in nine segments, resulting in progression or new lesion in 16 patients (62%). Patients with or without progression did not differ in age, duration of dialysis treatment, number of cardiovascular risk factors, or serum total cholesterol and fibrinogen levels. After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) a restenosis was seen in seven of 16 primarily successfully dilated segments. After the second angiography, myocardial revascularization was performed in eight patients (1 PTCA, 7 coronary artery bypass graft). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with end-stage renal disease have a high prevalence of CAD. In line with the clinical course, CAD patients on maintenance dialysis undergo rapid angiographic progression of CAD, which results in a high rate of subsequent myocardial revascularizations.     

Prevalence and prediction of renal artery stenosis in patients with coronary and supraaortic artery atherosclerotic disease.

BACKGROUND: Renal atherosclerosis is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of renal artery stenosis (RAS) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and supraaortic arteries (SA) stenosis. METHODS: Renal angiography was performed in 1193 (807 men) consecutive patients referred for coronary or SA angiography. Group I included 296 (136 men, 60.1 +/- 9.5 years) patients with no significant (< 50%) lesion in coronary arteries or SA; group II included 706 (526 men, 62.2 +/- 9.7 years) patients with stenosis > or = 50% within single arterial territory (coronary arteries or SA) and group III included 191 (145 men, 64.9 +/- 8.5 years) patients with stenosis > or = 50% in both territories. RESULTS: Some RAS was found in 55 (18.6%) patients in group I, 250 (35.4%) patients in group II and 115 (60.2%) patients in group III (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with RAS > or = 50% in groups I, II and III was 3.3, 6.2 and 18.3%, respectively (P < 0.001). RAS prevalence increased with the number of stenosed coronary arteries (38.4% in 1-vessel, 42.1% in 2-vessel, 48.5% in 3-vessel CAD, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of RAS > or = 50% identified by logistic regression analysis were SA stenosis [relative risk (RR) = 3.28, P < 0.001], 2-3-vessel-CAD (RR = 2.04, P = 0.002), creatinine level > or = 1.07 mg/dl (RR = 2.95, P < 0.001), hypertension (RR = 2.97, P = 0.012) and body mass index < 25 kg/m(2) (RR = 1.42, P = 0.169). A calculated score for RAS > or = 50% prediction (based on the regression model) was reliable (coefficient of determination, R = 0.978) and showed a sensitivity of 77.5% and a specificity of 63.9%. CONCLUSIONS: RAS prevalence and severity increases with the number of arterial territories involved and CAD severity. The following independent predictors of RAS > or = 50% were identified: SA involvement, 2-3-vessel-CAD, serum creatinine level and hypertension.     

End-stage renal disease secondary to renal malignancy: Epidemiologic trends and survival outcomes

Objectives

Loss of renal parenchyma after surgery may contribute to chronic kidney disease; however, the long-term consequences of chronic kidney disease may differ by cause. We analyzed the outcomes of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) based on various medical and surgical causes.

Length of time on dialysis prior to renal transplantation is a critical factor affecting patient survival after allografting

Within the past year at our transplant center we have had the experience of performing renal allografts in two patients older than 65 years, each of whom had been on hemodialysis more than 10 years. Both resulted in patient mortality within 90 days of transplant (one due to myocardial infarction, the other due to visceral ischemia with infarction). This prompted us to review retrospectively our own data (n = 204) and the national (UNOS) data (n = 10 971) regarding transplant outcome, patient age, and length of time on dialysis prior to renal transplantation. This review revealed that patient mortality after transplant increased with the length of end-stage renal disease (dialysis, regardless of type) independent of age, the greatest mortality occurring within the first 6 months of transplant (and not thereafter); graft survival was similar for all age cohorts analyzed. Our review of the literature reveals a paucity of articles pertaining to post-transplant mortality and length of time on dialysis prior to transplant. Our results indicate the following possible conclusions. (1) The length of time of end-stage renal disease therapy prior to renal transplantation is a significant and independent risk factor for post-transplant mortality. (2) Higher priority should be given to this factor when formulating strategies for allocation of scarce resources. (3) Patients on dialysis for extended periods of time who are elderly may be at particularly high risk. (4) Patients being considered for renal transplant should be informed of their individual risk factors for mortality post-transplant based on length of ESRD therapy. (5) Renal transplantation should be considered as early as possible in patients with ESRD (or imminent ESRD).     

Coronary angiography prior to renal transplantation

Summary: A retrospective analysis of coronary angiography in 89 patients (57 male, 32 female) on regular dialysis treatment, prior to their acceptance onto the cadaveric renal transplant waiting list, was performed. Patients studied included those older than 40 years and those symptomatic of coronary artery disease (CAD) or diabetics. Thirty patients (34%) had significant CAD: 18 one-vessel, 8 two-vessel, 3 three-vessel and 1 four-vessel disease. Significant predictors of CAD were a history of cardiac ischaemic symptoms, a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and a family history of CAD. There was no difference in survival between those with and those without CAD. Total mortality, and that due to myocardial infarction, was similar in patients with one- and two-vessel disease and those without CAD, but increased in those with three- or four-vessel disease ( P <0.001). Thirteen patients (11 with CAD) were excluded from the transplant waiting list, and their survival was significantly worse ( P <0.001). Restriction of coronary angiography to patients who were either symptomatic or diabetic would have resulted in 63% fewer angiograms without altering acceptance onto the transplantation waiting list for any patient.     

Renal cell carcinoma in patients with end‐stage renal disease has favorable overall prognosis

Patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) demonstrate a greater risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than the general population. This study compared pathological and clinical outcomes in patients with RCC with and without ESRD. Patients with ESRD who underwent nephrectomy and were found to have RCC at our institution since 1999 were identified. The control group was composed of patients from the general population with RCC. The primary outcome was risk of cancer recurrence. The study included 338 RCC patients: 84 with ESRD and 243 without ESRD. In the ESRD group, mean tumor size was smaller, there was decreased prevalence of advanced T category (>3) , and the average Karakiewicz nomogram score was lower. ESRD was associated with decreased tumor recurrence and clear cell pathology. No patients with ESRD had metastatic disease. There was no difference in overall or cancer‐specific mortality between the ESRD and control groups. Patients with ESRD who develop RCC have a better prognosis compared to RCC in patients without ESRD, which is likely secondary to favorable histopathologic phenotype as well as the likelihood of early diagnosis. Thus, the delay between nephrectomy and renal transplantation may not be necessary, especially in patients with asymptomatic, low grade tumors.     

Close association of Chlamydia pneumoniae IgA seropositivity by ELISA with the presence of coronary artery stenosis in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease do not fully explain the accelerated atherosclerosis present in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The goal of this study was to identify the association of clinical and laboratory factors including seropositivity for Chlamydia pneumoniae determined by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the presence of coronary artery disease identified by coronary angiography in ESRD patients. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 161 consecutive ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis for >6 months (106 men, 55 women; mean age 63.1+/-10.2 years; mean dialysis duration 91.3+/-90.1 months). All patients underwent coronary angiography within 1 week after blood sampling. The associations of coronary artery disease with clinical parameters including C. pneumoniae IgA and IgG seropositivity were analysed using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Coronary stenosis >50% was found in 102 of 161 haemodialysis patients (63.4%). Of the 102 patients, 75.5% were asymptomatic. Seropositivity for C. pneumoniae IgA was found in patients with coronary stenosis (77 out of 102, 75.5%) more frequently (P<0.001) than in patients without coronary stenosis (10 out of 59, 16.9%). Seropositivity for C. pneumoniae IgA but not IgG was strongly associated with the presence of coronary stenosis in multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 18.440; 95% confidence interval, 7.500-45.337), independently of the Framingham coronary risk factors, factors peculiar to ESRD or serum C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: C. pneumoniae IgA seropositivity determined by ELISA is an independent laboratory factor indicating the presence of coronary artery stenosis in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.     

Liver Transplantation Outcome in Patients With Angiographically Proven Coronary Artery Disease: A Multi‐Institutional Study

Over the last decade the age of liver transplant (LT) recipients and the likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population have increased. There are no multicenter studies that have examined the impact of CAD on LT outcomes. In this historical cohort study, we identified adult LT recipients who underwent angiography prior to transplantation at seven institutions over a 12‐year period. For each patient we recorded demographic data, recipient and donor risk factors, duration of follow‐up, the presence of angiographically proven obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis) and post‐LT survival. Obstructive CAD was present in 151 of 630 patients, the CAD(+) group. Nonobstructive CAD was found in 479 patients, the CAD(?) group. Patient survival was similar for the CAD(+) group (adjusted HR 1.13, CI = [0.79, 1.62], p = 0.493) compared to the CAD(?) group. The CAD(+) patients were further stratified into severe (CADsev, >70% stenosis, n = 96), and moderate CAD (CADmod, 50–70% stenosis, n = 55) groups. Survival for the CADsev (adjusted HR = 1.26, CI = [0.83, 1.91], p = 0.277) and CADmod (adjusted HR = 0.93, CI = [0.52, 1.66], p = 0.797) groups were similar to the CAD(?) group. We conclude that when current CAD treatment strategies are employed prior to transplant, post‐LT survival is not significantly different between patients with and without obstructive CAD.     

Fifteen hundred coronary reoperations. Results and determinants of early and late survival

Fifteen hundred consecutive patients undergoing a first reoperation for coronary revascularization were reviewed to determine early and late results and predictors of survival. Patients were subdivided into cohorts on the basis of the year of reoperation: Group A (1967 to 1978, 436 patients); Group B (1979 to 1981, 439 patients); and Group C (1982 to 1984, 625 patients). Overall operative mortality was 3.4% (51 deaths): 4.6%, 2.3%, and 3.4% for Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Group C had significantly more women (p = 0.01) and patients with triple-vessel disease, left main coronary artery stenosis (greater than or equal to 50%), abnormal left ventricular function, age greater than or equal to 70 years, and graft failure as a surgical indication (all p less than 0.001). The mean interval between operations increased from 50 months for Group A to 84 months for Group C. At reoperation, Group C patients received more grafts, more internal mammary artery grafts, and had a higher prevalence of complete revascularization (all p less than 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified left main stenosis (p less than 0.0001), Class III or IV symptoms (p = 0.0002), advanced age (p = 0.0006), Group A (p = 0.02), and incomplete revascularization (p = 0.004) as predictors of increased in-hospital mortality. Follow-up of in-hospital survivors (mean interval 54 months, range 13 to 171 months) documented a 5 year survival rate of 90% and a 10 year survival rate of 75%. Multivariate testing identified advanced age (p less than 0.0001), hypertension (p less than 0.0001), and abnormal left ventricular function (p less than 0.0001) as predictors of decreased late survival.     

Renal Failure and Concurrent RAAS Blockade in Older CKD Patients with Renal Artery Stenosis: An Extended Mayo Clinic Prospective 63-Month Experience

Concerns have been raised regarding a possible link between the increasing utilization of RAAS blocking strategies in the United States and the increasing ESRD epidemic. Most reports of accelerated renal failure in CKD patients with renal artery stenosis on RAAS blockade are retrospective. We hypothesized that this syndrome is therefore poorly understood, may be under-recognized, and demanded prospective analysis. As part of a larger cohort of 100 CKD patients on RAAS blockade presenting with worsening renal failure (>25% increased serum creatinine from baseline) while concurrently on an ACE inhibitor and/or an angiotensin receptor blocker, 26 patients (26%) enrolled between September 2002 and February 2005 had hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis. RAAS blockade was discontinued, standard nephrology care applied, and eGFR by MDRD monitored. They consisted of 26 Caucasian patients, M:F = 10:16, age 75.3 ± 6.4 (63–87) years. Mean follow-up was 26.4 ± 16.4 (1–49) months. Duration of RAAS blockade prior to enrollment was 20.2 ± 16.4 (0.5–48) months. Contrary to previous reports, precipitating factors were often absent (15/26), unilateral RAS lesions in patients with dual kidneys was common (19/26), and progression to ESRD was frequent (5/26). Four-fifths of the ESRD patients were dead after 5.5 ± 4.1 (1–11) months. A fifth patient with improved eGFR died after 14 months from metastatic gastric cancer. Excluding five patients who progressed to ESRD and two patients lost early to follow-up, in 19 patients, eGFR increased from 27.8 ± 9.5 (11–47) to 36.7 ± 16 (14–68) mL/min/1.73 m² BSA (p = 0.014) after 34.8 ± 10.1 (14–49) months of follow-up. This improvement in eGFR was evident after weeks to months of stopping RAAS blockade in these patients with and without renal PTA and stenting. Nevertheless, renal PTA/stenting further improved eGFR in selected patients. We conclude that renal failure/ESRD associated with concurrent RAAS blockade in older CKD patients with renal stenosis remains poorly understood and mostly unrecognized. Unilateral lesions in patients with dual kidneys, absent precipitating factors, and progression to ESRD with high mortality, despite discontinuation of RAAS blockade, are more common than previously thought. Lower baseline eGFR (<35) predicted ESRD. Our findings call for a larger prospective study, especially given growing concerns of iatrogenic renal failure from RAAS blockade in the aging U.S. population. An aging U.S. population further raises the probability of the presence of increasing and unrecognized renal artery stenosis in our CKD patient population.     

Identification of Impeding Factors for Dry Weight Achievement in End‐Stage Renal Disease After Appropriate Kidney Graft Function

The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors that prevent dry weight achievement in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in renal replacement therapy through the change in their body weight after kidney transplant (KT) compared with 1 week before KT. The study included 188 ESRD patients of diverse etiology who received living kidney transplantation with normal immediate graft function, 62.2% were male, age 29 ± 11 years old. All patients were on renal replacement therapy for at least 1 month before KT with either hemodiafiltration (N = 106), hemodialysis (N = 25), or peritoneal dialysis (N = 57). Based on body weight difference (after transplant—before transplant), patients with body weight difference ≤2 kg were considered as being close to their dry weight (Group 1, N = 112), whereas patients with body weight difference >2 kg were considered as being overhydrated (Group 2, N = 76). Clinical and biochemical characteristics were obtained from the medical records at three periods of time: time of ESRD initiation (baseline), 1 week before undergoing KT, and 1 week after KT. The mean time (± standard deviation) from renal replacement therapy initiation to the week before KT was 9.2 ± 5 months. Group 2 had a higher proportion of men, antihypertensive use, peritoneal dialysis, and higher urine output during all periods. Before KT, Group 2 had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures than Group 1. After KT, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased in Group 2, whereas no change occurred in Group 1. Before KT, Group 2 had higher levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, and phosphorous compared with Group 1. Compared with baseline, Group 1 had more optimal blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid parameters before KT than Group 2. After KT, all parameters improved with respect to baseline in both groups. Hemoglobin, albumin, and sodium were similar between groups, except for higher hemoglobin in Group 2 than Group 1 after KT. Multivariate regression analysis showed that male sex, peritoneal dialysis, and systolic blood pressure before KT were independent risk factors for overhydration. In conclusion, high systolic blood pressure and peritoneal dialysis were two independent modifiable variables associated with overhydration before KT. Assessment of the body weight change after KT is a useful tool to evaluate dry weight, in addition to identifying variables associated with poor volume control. This could allow adjustment of clinical and dialysis parameters in future patients.