| [ Summary ] |
An initial acute coronary event is an important predictor of future cardiovascular events and mortality in new hemodialysis patients. In this paper, it is strongly suggested that screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) at the initiation of hemodialysis was clinically useful for predicting future risks of acute coronary events in new hemodialysis patients with normal left ventricular systolic function but lacking cardiac symptoms. Detection of asymptomatic CAD, evidenced by coronary angiographic results or pharmacologic stress radionuclide imaging, the presence of diabetes, or elevated C-reactive proteins at the end of the predialysis phase were significantly associated with the occurrence of initial acute coronary events in new hemodialysis patients who had no cardiac symptoms. |