USEFULNESS OF RENAL ARTERIOGRAPHY FOLLOWING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose. To determine the usefulness of renal angiography in patients that underwent coronary angiography because of clinically suspected co ronary artery disease. Methods. Selective arteriography of the renal a rteries was performed in 205 patients (mean age 60 +/- 8 years; 80% ma les) at the time after coronary angiography with the use of right coro nary Judkins catheter. Results. Two hundred renal angiographies were j udged technically adequate. Average additional fluoroscopy time was 3 +/- 2 min and 30 +/- 8 ml of additional contrast medium was used. Coro nary artery disease (greater than or equal to 50% narrowing) was found in 158 (79%). Renal arterial disease was found in 17 (8.5%) patients. Reduction in lumen diameter was < 50% in 11 patients (5.5%) including 3 patients with bilateral stenosis, and greater than or equal to 50% in 6 patients (3%). The only clinical variable associated with renal a rtery stenosis was peripheral vascular disease. Conclusion. There is n o justification for doing routinely renal angiography for patients und ergoing coronary arteriography because the prevalence of severe renal artery stenosis is low.