Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The available data suggest that efforts to reduce mortality in the CKD population should be focused on treatment and prevention of, among others, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Accelerated atherosclerosis present in CKD patients also leads to a decline in renal function. Definite data concerning the treatment of heart failure in CKD patients are lacking, because patients with significant renal impairment have mostly been excluded from randomized studies. Nevertheless, it seems that CKD patients should receive similar cardiovascular treatment to that used in patients with normal kidney function, but the doses of drugs ought to be titrated to achieve an optimal effect while avoiding adverse events. Several studies have also shown that despite the high risk, in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), revascularization procedures in patients with CKD appear to be advantageous in the long run and are therefore justified. However, large clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits and to identify possible disadvantages associated with various methods of treatment.