guidelines. 1,2 On the one hand, a series of observational studies indicated a significant decrease in blood pressure (BP) and / or creatinine levels. 3-7 Furthermore, a number of studies reported the effect of PTA for RAS on the reduction INTRODUCTION Stent-assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of symptomatic atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) still remains a controversial issue, which was reflected by a weak level of evidence in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American

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Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an early marker of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate CIMT value for CAD prediction in pre-and postmenopausal women referred for coronary angiography with angina-like symptoms and a positive result of the treadmill test. The study comprised 321 women referred for coronary angiography with symptoms suggesting CAD. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured in common, bifurcation, and internal carotid artery, and expressed as the mean maximum value. Coronary angiography showed coronary stenosis > or = 50% in 211 (65.7%) women, including 27 with regular menses (47.3 +/- 3.4 years) and 184 postmenopausal (65.8 +/- 7.2 years). Normal coronary arteries were found in 110 women: 17 (47.3 +/- 4.9 years) with regular menses and 93 postmenopausal (64.3 +/- 6.5 years). The highest CIMT values were found in postmenopausal CAD women (1.360 +/- 0.32 mm), as compared to premenopausal with CAD (1.178 +/- 0.36 mm, P = 0.005), pre- (0.860 +/- 0.23 mm, P < 0.001) and postmenopausal (1.022 +/- 0.30 mm, P < 0.001) women without CAD. Carotid intima-media thickness (P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.018), and myocardial infarction (P < 0.001), but not menopause itself or the number of years since menses cessation, were found to be independent CAD predictors. By receiver operating characteristic calculation, the mean maximum CIMT cut-off values discriminating CAD were lower in premenopausal (> or = 0.933 mm) than in postmenopausal women (> or = 1.075 mm; P < 0.05) resulting in similar sensitivity (85.2% and 82.6%) and specificity (70.6% and 69.9%). Carotid intima-media thickness is a strong CAD predictor in both pre- and postmenopausal women, in contrast to the menopausal status.

RAS induced LVM and LVMI reduction, which is independent of the change in blood pressure. Baseline LVM is associated with higher CV event risk following RAS.