Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is feasible and effective in patients on chronic dialysis with severe peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common among patients on chronic dialysis. Despite severe clinical manifestations, the indication for bypass surgery is controversial, because of the high morbidity and mortality rate of these patients. The less invasive percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a possible alternative, but data about PTA in dialysis patients are scarce.

METHODS

We followed 107 dialysis patients (mean age 67+/-10, 75 males) with 132 ischaemic limbs (97% with critical limb ischaemia and ischaemic foot lesions or rest pain) consecutively treated by PTA.

RESULTS

PTA was successful in 97% of cases. Median follow-up was 22 months. Cumulative limb salvage rates at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months were 86, 84, 84 and 62%, respectively. Log-rank test showed an association between major amputation and baseline presence of foot lesions (P=0.04). This association was confirmed by a Cox survival multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR)=7.03, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-43.0, P=0.035]. Limb salvage without any new intervention on the same leg was achieved in 70% of the cases, and was associated with the absence of diabetes mellitus (P=0.01), lower number of treated lesions (P=0.04) and proximal level (iliac and/or femoro-popliteal) of PTA (P<0.001). Independent predictors were diabetes mellitus (HR=3.47, 95% CI=1.31-9.17, P=0.01) and proximal PTA (HR=0.28, 95% CI=0.08-0.94, P=0.04). Fifty-three (49%) patients died during follow-up. Patients older than 67 years (the median value in our sample) had a 2.4-fold increase in mortality risk (95% CI=1.4-4.1, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PTA is feasible and effective in dialysis patients with PAD, and should be preferred to other more invasive interventions.