Renal haemodynamics and coronary atherosclerotic burden are associated in patients with hypertension and mild coronary artery disease

Abstract

Intrarenal hemodynamic alterations are independent predictors of cardiovascular events in different populations. It has been hypothesized that there is an association between renal hemodynamics and coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with hypertension. Therefore, the present study examined the associations between renal hemodynamics, coronary atherosclerotic burden and carotid atherosclerotic disease. A total of 130 patients with hypertension aged between 30-80 years who had been referred for an elective coronary angiography were enrolled in the present study. A duplex ultrasound of the intrarenal vasculature was performed to evaluate the resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and acceleration time (AT). The carotid intima-media thickness was additionally assessed. A coronary angiography was performed to detect the atherosclerotic burden using the Gensini Score (GS). Based on the GS values, subjects were divided into quintiles (I: ≤9; II: 9-17; III: 17-30; IV: 30-44; and V: GS >44) as well as in subjects with mild (GS ≤30) or severe coronary disease (GS >30). A weak significant difference in PI was identified among quintiles (P=0.041), whereas, RI and AT did not differ significantly. PI was associated with GS in the group with low coronary atherosclerotic burden (GS ≤30; P=0.047), whereas, no association was detected in subjects with GS >30. This association remained following adjustment for age and left ventricular ejection fraction (P=0.025). In conclusion, renal vascular alterations were associated with coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with hypertension with mild coronary disease.

Renal resistive index and long-term outcome in patients with coronary artery disease

“…More recently, the same group of authors provided evidence that Doppler-derived intra-renal flow parameters were associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed in coronary angiography, but only among patients with less pronounced atherosclerosis [24]. Of note, this association was valid for RPI, but not RRI, which requires further explanation [24].…”

Effect of left coronary bifurcation angle and left main coronary artery length on coronary artherosclerotic plaque burden

“…Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in both the developed and developing world (1). Atherosclerosis also causes a decrease in cognitive functions (2) and renovascular alterations (3). Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between atherosclerotic plaque burden and complications.…”