Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging Evaluation in Patients With Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Renal insufficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis (1); and the presence of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is an independent prognostic risk factor in patients with coronary artery disease, even in the current era of mature drug-eluting stent technology and medical treatment. Patients with CRI, especially dialysis patients, are known to have a higher event rate, regardless of treatment. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a dual-functional intracoronary imaging modality that combines grayscale IVUS with lipid detection. A study of 208 patients reported no association of NIRS findings and renal function (2). There is no large report of NIRS-IVUS and coronary vessel-wall composition association with long-term events in patients with CRI; we assessed the utility of NIRS-IVUS in patients with CRI from the LRP (Lipid Rich Plaque) study