In this Article

• What are the renal arteries?
• What is renal artery stenosis?
• What are the causes of renal artery stenosis?
• How common is renal artery stenosis?
• What are the symptoms of renal artery stenosis?
• What problems does renal artery stenosis cause?
• Who should be screened for renal artery stenosis?
• How is renal artery stenosis diagnosed?
• What are the common imaging tests to evaluate renal artery stenosis?
• What functional tests are used for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis?
• What are medical treatments for renal artery stenosis?
• What surgical procedures are available for renal artery stenosis?
• Which patients can benefit from surgical procedures for renal artery stenosis?
• Renal Artery Stenosis At A Glance
• Renal Artery Stenosis Glossary
• Renal Artery Stenosis Index

Who should be screened for renal artery stenosis?

A search for renal artery stenosis may be undertaken in patients with progressive kidney failure of unknown cause, or in individuals with difficult to treat high blood pressure (hypertension that does not respond well to medications). The diagnosis of renal artery stenosis may be considered when any or all of the following are present:

• High blood pressure that is difficult to control with the usual medications.
  
  
• An abdominal bruit (a rubbing sound heard with a stethoscope placed on the abdomen suggesting a narrowed vessel) along with high blood pressure.
  
  
• Moderately to severely elevated blood pressure, with an onset before age 30 or after age 50.
  
  
• Moderately to severely elevated blood pressure in a person with known atherosclerosis elsewhere in the body (history of heart attack or stroke).
  
  
• Easily controlled high blood pressure that becomes difficult to control.
  
  
• Worsening of kidney function after initiation of certain blood pressure medications [angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE Inhibitor), or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)].

How is renal artery stenosis diagnosed?

Several tests exist to detect any evidence of renal artery stenosis. They can be divided into imaging tests and functional tests. The imaging tests provide a picture of the blood vessel and its anatomy and reveal the degree of narrowing. The functional tests provide information about whether the narrowing is significant enough to cause the high blood pressure or kidney dysfunction. Each of these tests has advantages and shortcomings.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• ACE Inhibitors - Read about ACE inhibitors like Altace, lisinopril, enalapril, ramparil, Zestril and more. Information includes side effects, drug interactions, and pregnancy safety information.
• Low Blood Pressure - Learn about low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure is blood pressure below normal and symptoms may include: lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting upon standing (orthostatic hypotension). There are many causes of low blood pressure, and treatment is dependant upon the cause.
• Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB) - Explains Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB), which are drugs used for controlling high blood pressure, treating heart failure, and preventing kidney failure in people with diabetes or high blood pressure. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.

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