Renal artery stenosis
BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7242.1124 (Published 22 April 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:1124- Kevin McLaughlin,
- Alan G Jardine,
- Jon G Moss
Renal artery stenosis is becoming increasingly common because of atherosclerosis in an ageing population. Patients usually present with hypertension and varying degrees of renal impairment, although silent renal artery stenosis may be present in many patients with vascular disease. Despite improvements in diagnostic and interventional techniques, controversy remains over whether, when, and how to revascularise the kidneys of patients with renal artery stenosis.
Charac teristics of renal artery stenosis
Fibromuscular dysplasia
Young age group
Predominantly affects women
Presents as hypertension
Rarely causes renal impairment
Atherosclerosis
Older age group
More common in men
Affects smokers
Evidence of atherosclerosis elsewhere
Causes hypertension—often treatment resistant
Often associated with renal impairment
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of unilateral renal artery stenosis provides a clear example of how hypertension develops. Narrowing of the renal artery, due to atherosclerosis or, rarely, fibromuscular dysplasia, leads to reduced renal perfusion. The consequent activation of the renin-angiotensin system causes hypertension (mediated by angiotensin II), hypokalaemia, and hyponatraemia (which are features of secondary hyperaldosteronism). Although these features may be reversed by correcting the stenosis, a classic presentation is uncommon, and hypertension is rarely cured in patients with atheromatous renal artery stenosis. In addition, it is now known that renal artery stenosis is underdiagnosed and may present as a spectrum of disease from secondary hypertension to end stage renal failure, reflecting variation in the underlying disease process. Thus, the presence of overt, or coincidental, renal artery stenosis usually reflects widespread vascular disease, with the associated implications for cardiovascular risk and patient survival.
Prevalence of atheromatous renal artery stenosis
27% of necropsies …
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