Abstract: We read the article “Screening for significant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with a regression model in patients undergoing transradial coronary angiography/intervention” by Pu et al. (2012), published in Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), with great interest. Of particular interest to us was the part considering the logistic regression model in this specific cohort of patients for future screening for significant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). Although arteriography represents the gold standard for evaluation of ARAS, this exam is invasive and requires nephrotoxic iodinated contrast media which makes it less suitable as a first option for diagnosis or screening. Several non-invasive assessment tools, such as Doppler ultrasound and non-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography, have high sensitivity and specificity rates, but also have certain shortcomings.

[1]Alpert, J.S., 1994. Myocardial infarction with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Arch. Intern. Med., 154(3):265-269.

[2]Bugiardini, R., Bairey Merz, C.N., 2005. Angina with “normal” coronary arteries: a changing philosophy. JAMA, 293(4):477-484.

[3]da Costa, A., Isaaz, K., Faure, E., Mourot, S., Cerisier, A., Lamaud, M., 2001. Clinical characteristics, aetiological factors and long-term prognosis of myocardial infarction with an absolutely normal coronary angiogram: a 3-year follow-up study of 91 patients. Eur. Heart J., 22(16):1459-1465.

[4]Pu, L.J., Shen, Y., Zhang, R.Y., Zhang, Q., Lu, L., Ding, F.H., Hu, J., Yang, Z.K., Shen, W.F., 2012. Screening for significant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with a regression model in patients undergoing transradial coronary angiography/intervention. J. Zhejiang Univ.-Sci. B (Biomed. & Biotechnol.), 13(8):631-637.