Study Identifies Steps To Improve Safety Of Renal Artery Stenting

Use of a platelet inhibitor may make renal artery stenting safer for patients, especially when used in combination with an embolic protection device (EPD), according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit in New Orleans, La. EPDs are filters that safely trap and remove much of the debris that may be dislodged during interventional procedures.

Renal artery stenosis not only leads to high blood pressure, or hypertension, but can also lead to chronic failure of the kidney. This is the first study to test whether using glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and EPDs would improve renal function following the stenting. To test the value of the combination therapy regimen, a total of 100 patients undergoing renal artery stenting at seven centers were randomized to EPD(Angioguard™) or double-blinded use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (abciximab) in a 2x2 factorial design. Patients' key functions were recorded, including kidney function, activation of platelets and the presence of platelet-rich thrombus (blood clots) in the filter baskets of the EPDs. The main effects of treatments and their interaction were assessed by percent change in MDRD-derived GFR from baseline to one month. MDRD-derived GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is a widely accepted estimated measure of kidney function, usually based on serum creatinine level, age, sex and race.

Researchers found that an overall improvement in renal function was only observed in patients allocated to both treatments. Abciximab reduced the occurrence of platelet-rich emboli (particles or debris) in the EPD from 42 to seven percent. This difference was highly significant compared to the three other possible allocations in the 2x2 design. EPD alone was not associated with improved renal function, whereas the use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor showed measurable benefit.

"When examined independently, the platelet inhibitor abciximab appeared to have beneficial effects, but Angioguard did not appear to be noticeably helpful," said Christopher J. Cooper, M.D., of the University of Toledo and lead author of the study. "However, the group treated with both Angioguard and abciximab in combination benefited the most from treatment, illustrating a significant interaction effect. Like many other studies, we are finding that patients benefit from a combination of therapeutic strategies; in this case, the filter and the drug serve patients best when doctors use both in combination."

Dr. Cooper will present the results of the "Embolic Protection and Platelet Inhibition During Renal Artery Stenting" study at the American College of Cardiology's Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit in New Orleans, La.