Drug-eluting compared to bare metal stents in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis: a meta-analysis

Degradation-triggered release from biodegradable metallic surfaces

This work is dedicated to the investigation of drug-release control by a direct effect of degradation from biodegradable metallic surfaces. Degradation behaviors characterized by surface morphology, immersion, and electrochemical techniques demonstrated that curcumin-coated zinc (c-Zn) had a higher degradation rate compared to curcumin-coated Fe (c-Fe). High anodic dissolution rate due to the higher degradation rate and widely extended groove-like degradation structure of c-Zn propelled a higher curcumin release. On the other hand, a slower curcumin release rate shown by c-Fe scaffolds is ascribed to its lower anodic dissolution and to its pitting degradation regime with relatively smaller pits. These findings illuminate the remarkable advantage of different degradation behaviors of degradable metallic surfaces in directly controlling the drug release without the need for external electrical stimulus.

Longer or shorter dual antiplatelet therapy in dialysis patients receiving a coronary drug-eluting stent? A rope game still ongoing

In this issue of Clinical Kidney Journal, Park et al. presents the results of a nationwide population-based trial that included >5000 dialysis patients receiving a drug-eluting stent (DES). The main objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The primary outcome was a composite of mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and stroke, significantly lowered by a longer DAPT regimen at 12, 15 and 18 months, respectively. Longer DAPT tended to be correlated with higher bleeding events at all landmarks, with no statistical significance. An important element was that almost 75% of the index events were acute coronary syndromes. This study presents the first solid evidence for a significant benefit of prolonged DAPT in dialysis patients receiving a DES. We believe that end-stage renal disease is still in the middle of a rope game, being pulled to one side or another by other features, inclining towards a higher bleeding risk or towards higher ischaemic risk. The acute versus elective presentation seems to weigh in choosing the antiplatelet regimen. The 'one-size-fits-all strategy' is not suitable for this particular group. Probably in the future, practitioners will be provided with decision pathways generated by artificial intelligence algorithms yielding 'truly individualized' DAPT protocols for every single patient.

Coronary artery disease in dialysis patients: evidence synthesis, controversies and proposed management strategies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Clustering of traditional atherosclerotic and non-traditional risk factors drive the excess rates of coronary and non-coronary CVD in this population. The incidence, severity and mortality of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as the number of complications of its therapy is higher in dialysis patients than in non-chronic kidney disease patients. Given the lack of randomized clinical trial evidence in this population, current practice is informed by observational data with a significant potential for bias. Furthermore, guidelines lack any recommendation for these patients or extrapolate them from trials performed in non-dialysis patients. Patients with ESRD are more likely to be asymptomatic, posing a challenge to the correct identification of CAD, which is essential for appropriate risk stratification and management. This may lead to "therapeutic nihilism", which has been associated with worse outcomes. Here, the ERA-EDTA EUDIAL Working Group reviews the diagnostic work-up and therapy of chronic coronary syndromes, unstable angina/non-ST elevation and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in dialysis patients, outlining unclear issues and controversies, discussing recent evidence, and proposing management strategies. Indications of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting are discussed. The issue of the interaction between dialysis session and myocardial damage is also addressed.