Optimal medical management in patients with renovascular hypertension

Diabetic vascular diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Vascular complications of diabetes pose a severe threat to human health. Prevention and treatment protocols based on a single vascular complication are no longer suitable for the long-term management of patients with diabetes. Diabetic panvascular disease (DPD) is a clinical syndrome in which vessels of various sizes, including macrovessels and microvessels in the cardiac, cerebral, renal, ophthalmic, and peripheral systems of patients with diabetes, develop atherosclerosis as a common pathology. Pathological manifestations of DPDs usually manifest macrovascular atherosclerosis, as well as microvascular endothelial function impairment, basement membrane thickening, and microthrombosis. Cardiac, cerebral, and peripheral microangiopathy coexist with microangiopathy, while renal and retinal are predominantly microangiopathic. The following associations exist between DPDs: numerous similar molecular mechanisms, and risk-predictive relationships between diseases. Aggressive glycemic control combined with early comprehensive vascular intervention is the key to prevention and treatment. In addition to the widely recommended metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, for the latest molecular mechanisms, aldose reductase inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonizts, glucokinases agonizts, mitochondrial energy modulators, etc. are under active development. DPDs are proposed for patients to obtain more systematic clinical care requires a comprehensive diabetes care center focusing on panvascular diseases. This would leverage the advantages of a cross-disciplinary approach to achieve better integration of the pathogenesis and therapeutic evidence. Such a strategy would confer more clinical benefits to patients and promote the comprehensive development of DPD as a discipline.

Impact of extracardiac vascular disease on outcomes of 1.4 million patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVES

Extracardiac vascular disease (ECVD) is increasingly recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor, but its association with outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well characterized.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample database, all patients undergoing PCI between October 2015 and December 2018 were stratified by the presence and organ-specific extent of extracardiac vascular comorbidity (cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), renovascular, aortic and peripheral arterial disease (PAD)). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes were (a) major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), (b) acute ischemic stroke and (c) major bleeding. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS

Of a total of 1,403,505 patients undergoing PCI during the study period, 199,470 (14.2%) had ECVD. Patients with ECVD were older (median of 72 years vs. 70 years, p < 0.001) and had higher comorbidity burden that their counterparts. All cause-mortality was 22% higher in patients with any ECVD compared to those without ECVD. PAD patients had the highest odds of all-cause mortality (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.40-1.56), followed by those with CeVD (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.19). Patients with extracardiac disease had increased odds of MACCE, ischemic stroke and bleeding, irrespective of the nature or extent (p < 0.05), compared to patients without ECVD.

CONCLUSION

ECVD is associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing PCI including significantly higher rates of death and stroke. These data should inform our shared decision-making process with our patients.

Calcium channel blockers are associated with improved survival and lower cardiovascular mortality in patients with renovascular disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Results of interventional trials in renovascular hypertension have been disappointing, and medical therapy is the current recommended gold standard. However, the comparative long-term benefits of different antihypertensive drug classes in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis are not known. We aim to assess the effect of different antihypertensive drug classes on outcomes in renovascular hypertension DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: Using Tayside Health Informatics Centre database, anonymized data over a 6-year period was analyzed. Biochemistry, prescribing data, morbidity, mortality, and demographic data were accessed via hospital medical records and electronic data stored in the Tayside Health Informatics Centre Safe Haven. General Registrar's Office data were used to identify patients who died from cardiovascular disease. Independent predictors of survival in each group were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for a range of covariates, using time-updated drug analysis. Blood pressure data were obtained from primary and secondary care clinic blood pressure records for each patient. Adjustments for mean systolic blood pressure over the follow-up period and baseline blood pressure were made.

RESULTS

A total of 579 patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis were identified. In the unilateral renal artery stenosis cohort, calcium channel blockers but not ACE inhibitors/ARBs were associated with a significant reduction in all-cause (HR = 0.45, CI = 0.31, 0.65; P = <0.0001) and cardiovascular (HR = 0.51, CI = 0.29-0.90 P = 0.019) mortality. This was maintained after adjustment for blood pressure. In the bilateral renal artery stenosis cohort, both classes of drugs reduced all-cause but not cardiovascular mortality. Patients with moderate disease benefitted more than those with mild or severe disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Calcium channel blockers are associated with significantly increased survival and lower cardiovascular mortality particularly in patients with moderate RAS disease.

Perioperative Statin Use and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Partial Nephrectomy

Background:

Statin use is widespread among the general population. Data suggest a potentially beneficial effect of statin therapy on renal function following surgery. The impact of statins on post-partial nephrectomy (PN) renal function is unknown. We hypothesized that perioperative statin use may be associated with reduced rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing PN.

Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of perioperative statin use on AKI rates in patients undergoing PN.

Materials & Methods:

1,056 patients undergoing PN were identified from a prospectively-maintained institutional renal mass database. Exclusion criteria included lack of preoperative serum creatinine (Cr), concurrent surgeries, and those with baseline Cr <0.4. The binary outcome was AKI, defined using modified Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Chi-Square and Cochran-Armitage trend tests were used to evaluate the strength of associations. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of AKI.

Results:

Statin use was reported by n = 346 (32.8%) patients at the time of surgery. Univariate analysis demonstrated that statin use was associated with an increased risk of AKI following PN (OR 1.38, CI 1.01–1.88, p = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, statin use was no longer associated with AKI following PN (OR 1.09, CI 0.76–1.56, p = 0.65). Gender, BMI, comorbidity index, hypertension, surgical approach, ischemia temperature/time, and nephrometry “R” score were all independently associated with AKI.

Conclusions:

Perioperative statin use at the time of PN was not associated with rates of post-operative AKI. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate the effects of statins on functional outcomes following PN.

Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Renovascular Hypertension

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Renovascular hypertension (RVHT) is an important cause of childhood hypertension. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Korean children with RVHT.

METHODS

Children treated for RVHT between 2000 and 2015 at our center were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty-six children were followed for a median of 6.5 (0.66-27.23) years. Forty-five percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) were performed in 32 children. At the last visit, clinical benefit was observed in 53.3% of children. Patients with comorbid cerebrovascular disease (CVD) showed less favorable long-term outcomes after PTA (clinical benefit in 41.7% vs. 61.1% in others) and higher restenosis rates (50% vs. 31.6% in others). Surgical procedures (bypass or nephrectomy) were performed in 8 patients. After surgery, blood pressure was normalized in 2 patients, improved in 3 patients, and unchanged in the remaining patients. Between PTA group (n=21) and medication group (n=14), percentage of atrophic kidneys became higher after follow-up period in medication group than in PTA group (60.0% vs. 26.1%, P=0.037).

CONCLUSION

Aggressive treatment of pediatric RVHT yielded fair outcomes in our cohort. CVD comorbidity was associated with relatively poor PTA outcomes. To confirm our findings, larger cohort studies with a longer follow-up period are warranted.

Endovascular Management of Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis: Post-Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions Era Winner or False Alarm?

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is frequently associated with severe comorbidities such as reduced renal perfusion, hypertension, and end-stage renal failure. In approximately 90% of patients, renal artery atherosclerosis is the main cause for RAS, and it is associated with an increased risk for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular and renal complications. Endovascular management of atherosclerotic RAS (ARAS) has been recently evaluated by several randomized controlled trials that failed to demonstrate benefit of stenting. Furthermore, the Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions study did not demonstrate any benefit over the revascularization approach. In this review, we summarized the available data from retrospective, prospective and randomized trials on ARAS to provide clinicians with sufficient data in order to produce useful conclusions for everyday clinical practice.

Endovascular versus medical therapy for atherosclerotic renovascular disease

The diagnosis of renal artery stenosis (RAS) has become increasingly common in part due to greater awareness of ischemic renal disease and increased use of diagnostic techniques. Over 90 % of RAS cases are caused by atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD). Patients with ARVD are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular and renal events. The mortality rate in patients with ARVD is high, especially with other cardiovascular or renal comorbidities. Recent clinical studies have provided substantial evidence concerning medical therapy and endovascular interventional therapeutic approaches for ARVD. Despite previous randomized clinical trials, the optimal therapy for ARVD remained uncertain until the results of the Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) trial were released recently. CORAL demonstrated that optimal medical therapy was equally effective to endovascular therapy in the treatment of ARVD. Clinicians can now practice with more evidence-based medicine to treat ARVD and potentially decrease mortality in patients with ARVD using optimal medical therapy.

Use of a pulsatile perfusion pump for renal autotransplantation in a patient undergoing thoracoabdominal bypass for malignant hypertension secondary to Takayasu arteritis

Aortorenal bypass is an effective and durable therapy for autoimmune-induced renovascular hypertension. However, when technical and patient factors preclude this option, renal autotransplantation can be a viable alternative. We present a 32-year-old woman who underwent aortobi-iliac bypass with left renal autotransplantation for malignant hypertension secondary to Takayasu arteritis. This is the first description of using machine preservation with a continuous pulsatile perfusion pump to maintain renal preservation before reimplantation. Our method proved safe to the patient and allowed for protection of the organ from prolonged warm ischemia and intraoperative hypoperfusion during a complex reconstruction.