Coronary artery disease and percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with severe chronic kidney disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), presenting unique challenges in diagnosis and management. Advanced CKD patients often present with atypical symptoms, and conventional diagnostic and interventional approaches carry risks, including contrast-induced nephropathy and the potential need for renal replacement therapy. These risks have led to the phenomenon of "renalism," where necessary procedures may be deferred due to concerns over renal injury. Emerging techniques, such as ultra-low contrast angiography (ULCA) and zero-contrast percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), offer promising solutions by minimizing or eliminating contrast exposure. This review discusses the clinical presentation of CAD in CKD patients, limitations of traditional diagnostic approaches, and the challenges in managing these high-risk patients. It also provides an overview of ULCA and zero-contrast PCI techniques, which have shown both safety and feasibility even in complex cases. As these techniques continue to evolve, zero-contrast PCI holds the potential to become an essential component of revascularization strategies for high-risk CKD patients, enhancing procedural safety while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.