Objective: To investigate the feasibility of palliative percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) and stenting in patients with serious coronary heart disease and renal arterial stenosis.
Methods: Thirty-four (23 male and 11 female) patients with a mean age of 61.0+/-11.8 years (ranging from 55 to 78 years) with serious coronary heart disease and renal arterial stenosis, who were unwilling or not suitable to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting, were enrolled in this study. All the cases underwent PTRA and were followed up for 17-53 months (average 35.0+/-9.3 months). The patients' renal and cardiac functions and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured in transthoracic echocardiography with the score of SF-36 Health Survey recorded.
Results: During the follow-up, the weekly incidence of angina pectoris reduced from 14.0+/-3.9 to 6.5+/-3.3 (P<0.01) and LVEF increased from (40.2+/-10.4)% to (45.3+/-7.8)% (P<0.05). The SF-36 scores were significantly improved from 56.5+/-8.0 to 80.1+/-16.8 (P<0.01), with also significant improvement in the subscales of health and daily activity, self-feeling, and general health.
Conclusion: Palliative PTRA and stenting is feasible and necessary in elderly patients with serious coronary heart disease and renal arterial stenosis when percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft therapy is not possible.