Prevalence of renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization

To investigate the prevalence of significant renal artery stenosis (RAS ≥50%), and to identify clinical predictors for significant RAS in patients with an elevated cardiovascular risk, such as those affected by ischemic heart disease. In patients with an elevated cardio-vascular risk, both atherosclerotic renovascular disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) are likely to occur. Prospectively from April 2007 to March 2008, all consecutive patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing non-emergent cardiac catheterization were also evaluated for atherosclerotic RAS by renal arteriography. A RAS ≥50% was considered as significant. A total of 1,298 patients underwent cardiac and renal angiography. Significant RAS was found in 70 out of 1,298 patients (5.4%). The presence of peripheral vascular disease, eGFR <67 ml/min/1.73 m(2), age >66 years, dyslipidemia, CAD severity and pulse pressure >52 mmHg were independent clinical predictors of significant RAS, and jointly produced a ROC AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73-0.85, P < 0.001). Based on these data, a prediction rule for significant RAS was developed, and it showed an adequate predictive performance with 64% sensitivity and 82% specificity. In a large cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography, significant RAS is a relatively rare comorbidity (5.4%). A model based on simple clinical variables may be useful for the clinical identification of high CV risk patients who may be suitable for renal arteriography at the time of cardiac catheterization.