Clinical efficacy of percutaneous renal revascularization with stent placement in atherosclerotic renovascular disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous renal revascularization with stenting to control hypertension and preserve/restore renal function in patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease. METHODS: From May/1999 to October/2003, 46 patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) underwent revascularization with stenting. The indication for the procedure was hypertension control and/or renal function preservation/restoration. Clinical characteristics: age range: 33-84 years (median = 58.5 ±10.7), males: 26 (56.5%), 4 (10%) patients with dia betes mellitus, 21 (46%) patients with coronary artery disease, creatinine <2.0mg/dl: 39 (64%), 6 patients (14%) with congestive heart failure, 20 (43%) patients with ostial stenosis and 15 (33%) patients with bilateral stenosis. Hypertension control was evaluated by the number of drugs used before the procedure and at follow-up (FU) and by blood pressure (BP) measurement. RESULTS: The minimum follow-up was 7 months (range of 7-52, median: 23, mean: 24.2 ± 15.2). There were no major complications. No patient experience any cardiovascular event. There was only one non-cadiac death (2%) and one technical failure in the treatment(2%). There was no serious complication in the procedure. None of the patients presented cardiovascular events. The renal function improved or stabilized in 32 patients (82%) and worsened in 4 (10%). The BP control improved in 19/44 (43,8%) patients and worsened / stabilized in 6 patients (14%). CONCLUSION: Angioplasty with renal artery stenting for ARAS showed to be an effective treatment strategy to restore and preserve renal function and to control blood pressure.