Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Chronic Non-Dialytic Renal Disease

DOI: 10.5935/abc.20150013 Cardiovascular diseases are currently the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerosis alone is their most important cause and is characterized by a progressive multifactorial disease caused by genetic and acquired factors such as lipid accumulation, development of fibrosis and artery obstruction. The risk among patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) is higher than that among the general population, with a high prevalence of coronary artery disease (40%) and mortality from 10 to 20 times higher, especially among those in a hemodialysis program, accounting for 50% of deaths in dialytic patients1,2. Investigation and assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis using imaging methods (calcium score in coronary CT scan, ultrasonography or angiography) may be used to identify and stratify the atherosclerotic risk, considering that the atherosclerotic plaque burden correlates with the risk of coronary events, especially in patients with chronic dialytic renal failure3.