BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and high C-reactive protein (CRP) are known risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In the drug eluting stent (DES) era, the relationship among CKD, CRP, and long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been demonstrated. We investigated the combined effects of renal dysfunction and CRP on outcomes in patients who underwent PCI using DES.

METHODS A total of 1859 patients (mean age 64 ± 10 years) who underwent PCI with DES between February 2003 and June 2006, were divided into 4 groups (quartile) according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hsCRP at admission.

RESULTS The composite of cumulative death and non-fatal myocardial infarction (mortality+MI) during median follow-up of 27 months, was significantly higher in the lowest eGFR quartile than in the other three groups (hazard ratio (HR) for mortality+MI: 3.32, 95% CI: 2.21-5.00, P<0.001). Mortality+MI was also significantly higher in the highest hsCRP quartile (HR: 3.29, 95% CI: 2.02-5.37, P<0.001). A combined analysis of mortality+MI on the basis of hsCRP and renal function showed the exaggerated hazard in the combined worst quartile of hsCRP and GFR (HR of the combined worst quartile, 10.876, 95% CI: 3.74-31.63, P<0.001). Furthermore, both the lowest eGFR quartile and the highest hsCRP quartile were significantly associated with increased risk of stent thrombosis. In a multivariate analysis, low GFR and high hsCRP were independent predictors of mortality+MI after PCI with DES along with left ventricular dysfunction, diabetes, and left main disease.

CONCLUSIONS In an unselected cohort of patients receiving PCI with DES, poor renal function and high hsCRP were additively associated with a higher risk of hard endpoints and were independent predictors of mortality+MI even after correction for other factors. Our data suggest the importance of systemic factors on mortality even in the DES era.