Renovascular Hypertension and Stenosis

Abstract

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) may present clinically as an incidental radiographic finding in an asymptomatic patient, or it may be the etiology of renovascular hypertension or ischemic nephropathy. Incidental RAS should be treated medically. The available clinical trial data suggest that medical management is the primary treatment for presumed renovascular hypertension. Renal artery stenting should be reserved for patients who fail medical therapy. When renal artery stenting is contemplated for presumed renovascular hypertension or ischemic nephropathy, clinical studies suggest that there are clinical predictors of outcomes that may be useful in identifying patients with a higher probability of a favorable clinical response to stenting. Clinical predictors of a favorable blood pressure response to renal artery stenting include (1) a requirement of four or more antihypertensive medications, (2) preoperative diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg, and (3) preoperative clonidine use. The only clinical predictor of improved renal function with stenting is the rate of decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the weeks prior to stenting. Patients with a more rapid decline in eGFR have a higher probability of improved renal function after stenting compared with those with relatively stable eGFR prior to stenting. Finally, surgical renal artery revascularization remains a viable option but is usually reserved for younger, fit patients with unfavorable anatomy for stenting. Pediatric renovascular disease responds poorly to endovascular therapy and requires a surgical plan to address both renal artery stenoses and concomitant abdominal aortic coarctation if present. Renal artery stenosis in pediatric patients is best treated with reimplantation of the renal artery or interposition grafting using the autogenous internal iliac artery as a conduit. This review contains 39 references, 15 figures, and 3 tables. Key Words: chronic kidney disease, hypertension, renal artery stenosis, renovascular, stenting