Management of coronary artery disease in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are considered to belong to the highest risk group for the development of cardiovascular events. These patients should be subject to aggressive risk-factor modification. However, management of coronary artery disease in patients with CKD can be uniquely challenging. Many of the medications used in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease are metabolized or excreted by the kidney. Thus, patients with CKD are more likely to experience adverse effects from any attempt to aggressively modify risk factors for coronary artery disease. Little is known regarding revascularization in patients with CKD. Patients with CKD may benefit from off-pump strategies during coronary artery bypass. Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with CKD is associated with lower procedural success and increased peri-procedural myocardial infarction, ischemia, and target vessel revascularization. In this review, we discuss the unique challenges of managing coronary artery disease in patients with CKD.