Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD), transplantation status and subsequent mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing evaluation for renal transplantation. Two hundred fifty-three ESRD patients at high risk for CAD underwent coronary angiography as part of a renal transplant evaluation. The cohort was divided into three groups: Group 1 (n = 127) had no vessels with >or=50% stenosis, Group 2 (n = 56) had one vessel with >or=50% stenosis and Group 3 (n = 70) had two or more vessels with >or=50% stenosis. Long-term survival was determined; median follow-up was 3.3 years. The baseline characteristics were similar except for older age and higher proportion of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and peripheral vascular disease in Groups 2 and 3 patients as compared to Group 1. Survival was worse in Group 3 compared to Group 1 (p < 0.0001). Each of the three subgroups had better survival with renal transplantation than those who did not undergo transplantation (p < 0.0001). Although the degree of CAD is related to subsequent mortality, transplantation is associated with better survival regardless of the extent and severity of CAD. Thus, the presence of CAD should not exclude ESRD patients from consideration for this therapy.