title: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is prevalent in cardiorenal patients but not associated with left ventricular function and myocardial fibrosis as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is common in cardiovascular diseases and associated with hypertension, renal dysfunction and/or heart failure. There is a paucity of data about the prevalence and the role of ARAS in the pathophysiology of combined chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the prevalence in patients with combined CHF/CKD and its association with renal function, cardiac dysfunction and the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EPOCARES study (ClinTrialsNCT00356733) investigates the role of erythropoietin in anaemic patients with combined CHF/CKD. Eligible subjects underwent combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), including late gadolinium enhancement, with magnetic resonance angiography of the renal arteries (MRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MR study was performed in 37 patients (median age 74 years, eGFR 37.4 ± 15.6 ml/min, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 43.3 ± 11.2%), of which 21 (56.8%) had ARAS (defined as stenosis >50%). Of these 21 subjects, 8 (21.6%) had more severe ARAS >70% and 8 (21.6%) had a bilateral ARAS >50% (or previous bilateral PTA). There were no differences in age, NT-proBNP levels and medication profile between patients with ARAS versus those without. Renal function declined with the severity of ARAS (p = 0.03), although this was not significantly different between patients with ARAS versus those without. Diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in patients without ARAS (56.3%) against those with ARAS (23.8%) (p = 0.04). The presence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement, depicting myocardial fibrosis, did not differ (p = 0.80), nor did end diastolic volume (p = 0.60), left ventricular mass index (p = 0.11) or LVEF (p = 0.15). Neither was there a difference in the presence of an ischemic pattern of late enhancement in patients with ARAS versus those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ARAS is prevalent in combined CHF/CKD and its severity is associated with a decline in renal function. However, its presence does not correlate with a worse LVEF, a higher left ventricular mass or with the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis. Further research is required for the role of ARAS in the pathophysiology of combined chronic heart and renal failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mireille E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Emans
authors.forename: Karien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van der Putten
authors.forename: Birgitta K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Velthuis
authors.forename: Jan J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Maarten J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Yves G C J
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: America
authors.forename: Hans L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hillege
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meiss
authors.forename: Pieter A F M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Doevendans
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braam
authors.forename: Carlo A J M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059347:Cardio-Renal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006397:Hematinics; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004921:Erythropoietin; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine