Prevalence of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Angiographically Normal Coronary Arteries

sis patients reported by Herzog, 4 the 2-year mortality rate was 47.2% for balloon angioplasty and 46.5% for surgery. The results of this study cannot be extrapolated to all dialysis patients. The population was selected on the basis of a good initial risk, with culprit lesions accessible to stenting. Because of the small number of dialysis patients, there is a risk of a b error when comparing them with a general population. This study focused on clinical outcome and does not provide angiographic follow-up data. A systematic quantitative coronary angiography at 6 months could show differences in terms of angiographic restenosis between dialysis and non-dialysis patients. In conclusion, coronary angioplasty is a safe and effective therapeutic procedure in selected dialysis patients with culprit lesions accessible to stenting. However, the rate of 1-year cardiac death is higher in dialysis than in non-dialysis patients, which could be related to myocardial disease linked to renal failure.