Renal artery revascularization improves heart failure control in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) impacts the pathogenesis and control of heart failure (HF) and may further contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in HF patients. However, the long-term effects of renal artery revascularization on cardiovascular outcomes in HF patients are not well studied. METHODS: The prevalence of HF and its effects on all-cause mortality were studied in 163 consecutive patients with systemic hypertension and chronic kidney disease (serum creatinine >2 mg/dL) who underwent percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) with stenting for atherosclerotic RAS. In addition, in 100 patients with RAS and coexistent HF, we compared the impact of medical treatment (n = 50) versus PTRA (n = 50) on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: HF (predominantly normal ejection fraction) was present in 50/163 (31%) patients with systemic hypertension and chronic kidney disease (serum creatinine >2 mg/ dL) undergoing PTRA for RAS and represented the major predictor of all-cause mortality in these patients. When compared with sex-matched RAS and HF patients treated medically, PTRA with stenting was associated with a significant decrease in the New York Heart Association Functional Class (1.9 +/- 0.8 versus 2.6 +/- 1.0, P < 0.04) and a 5-fold reduction in the number of hospitalizations. However, renal artery revascularization did not impact mortality. CONCLUSION: HF was present in one-third of patients with renal dysfunction and atherosclerotic RAS who were referred for PTRA. The presence of HF was associated with a significantly increased risk of death after PTRA with stenting. Renal artery revascularization resulted in improved HF control and a reduction in HF hospitalizations.

Anti-inflammatory properties of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in chronic hemodialysis patients: impact of intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol as well as its functional roles are suppressed in chronic kidney disease because of ongoing chronic microinflammatory state. We hypothesized that intervention aimed at reducing inflammation may improve the levels and activity of HDL cholesterol as well as survival of our patients. METHODS: In this prospective follow-up study, we selected 67 patients (33 women, 34 men) on chronic hemodialysis (23.5 months [range, 10 to 34], aged 67.5 years [range, 39 to 90 years]). Targeted examination for asymptomatic infective foci or poor function of arterio-venous (AV)-fistula was carried out after a detailed initial clinical examination in all patients. Individual intervention was performed according to examination results. Blood was drawn for analysis of HDL cholesterol; interleukin-6, its soluble receptor, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), total iron binding capacity, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein at the beginning of the study and after 3 months. The patients were then closely followed up for 2 years during which the occurrence and cause of death was registered. RESULTS: A significant decrease of inflammatory parameters (Interleukin-6: 4.9 vs. 1.1 pg/mL, P > .001 and MCP-1: 397 vs. 310 pg/mL, P = .02) and increase of HDL cholesterol (1.22 ± 0.55 vs. 1.33 ± 0.55; P = .003) was seen in the entire study population. No difference in survival was found between the different interventional groups. The 2-year death rate was 37%. On using Kaplan-Meier analysis, a significantly better survival in patients with increase of HDL cholesterol (77% vs. 50%; P = .013) and/or a decrease of MCP-1 (81% vs. 53%; P = .04) was found after 3 months of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that individually aimed intervention may improve levels of HDL cholesterol and MCP-1. Changes in these 2 parameters can predict the 2-year survival rates of patients.

Evaluation of skin microcirculation during hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains high despite improvements in HD technique such as dialysis adequacy, dialysis fluid purity, and membrane biocompatibility. Optimal fluid balance to maintain optimal hemodynamic stability during hemodialysis (HD) procedure is essential. At the present time, hemodynamic stability is conventionally assessed as stability of macrocirculation, especially as maintenance of systemic blood pressure with no attention paid to peripheral perfusion. Peripheral ischemic vascular disease represents a serious problem with high mortality and morbidity. We estimated skin microcirculation changes during HD using new device, Laser Doppler Line Scanner (Moor Instruments, Devon, UK). AIMS: The aims were to introduce the novel method of detection of skin perfusion changes during hemodialysis and to evaluate possible relationship of these to ultrafiltration as well as to selected biochemical characteristics. METHODS: In 36 hemodynamically stable patients, we performed paired measurements of skin blood flow in both hands before and during HD with registering the time of dialysis and the total ultrafiltration achieved. RESULTS: We found a significant decrease in a majority of the evaluated areas. However, the skin blood flow change was not homogenous as it decreased more on the fingers. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study when the microcirculatory changes during hemodialysis are demonstrated and evaluated in large skin surface area, and showing not only a decrease in a majority of areas but also the heterogeneity of the changes.

Plasma albumin levels correlate with decreased microcirculation and the development of skin defects in hemodialyzed patients.

OBJECTIVES: Difficulty healing wounds and skin defects is a frequent problem in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) because of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome. The aim of the present study was to estimate the influence of peripheral blood flow changes during HD on the development of foot defects and its relationship to plasma albumin levels. METHODS: Peripheral skin blood flow was measured using a laser Doppler line scanner in 10 different areas of the dorsal part of the instep and the toes of each foot before and during HD with ultrafiltration (897 +/- 465 mL/procedure) in 31 HD patients (10 female, 21 male; age 36-79 y, body mass index = 28 +/- 5.0). No skin defects or apparent acute disease or infection were detected in any patient at the time of laser Doppler line scanner measurement. The feet of the patients were clinically re-examined carefully over the next 18 mo. RESULTS: We found a significant and constant decrease of skin blood flow during the HD procedure (P < 0.001). Skin blood flow was significantly correlated with serum albumin level both before HD (r = 0.36, P = 0.05) and during HD (r = 0.47, P = 0.007). Skin defects developed in 11 patients, with significantly lower skin blood flow during the 18-mo follow-up period. A significantly larger number of patients who had normal perfusion remained defect-free in comparison to patients with critical perfusion (93% versus 38%, P = 0.002, Kaplan-Meier analysis). CONCLUSION: Skin blood flow may be impaired in HD patients. The apparent malnutrition and inflammation in HD patients are likely responsible for the decreased skin blood flow and the development of the difficulty to heal skin defects and wounds.

Circulating fetuin-A predicts early mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess whether low serum levels of fetuin-A are potential biochemical predictor of early and/or late survival in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: We measured serum levels of fetuin-A in 67 patients on chronic HD, and correlated it to 3, 12, and 24 months mortality. RESULTS: Cumulative death rate was 7%, 19%, and 37% deaths at 3, 12, and 24 months. Serum fetuin-A was significantly lower in 3 months and 12 months non-survivals (p<0.001), but not in 24 months non-survivals. Kaplan-Meier analyses based on fetuin-A tertiles showed statistically significantly increased probability of death up to 12 months of follow-up for decreasing fetuin-A concentrations (p<0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin-A as a circulating inhibitor of vascular calcification was significant predictor of early mortality in chronic HD patients but did not appear as a fair marker for later survival.