Renovascular hypertension: A review article

Renovascular hypertension is among the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Fibromuscular dysplasia and atherosclerotic involvement of the renal artery are the commonest etiology behind renovascular hypertension. Its diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion followed by rationale investigations and their proper interpretation else it may be misdiagnosed as essential hypertension. The therapeutic approach of the patient with renovascular hypertension is currently a matter of great debate. In any case optimal medical therapy with antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and platelet-inhibiting drugs should be instituted. Current evidence suggests that endovascular interventions may benefit a subset of patients with significant stenosis. Prospective, randomized and controlled studies with clearly defined clinical endpoints are needed to better define the absolute and relative indications of angioplasty in renal artery stenosis.