Treatment of renovascular hypertension by transluminal angioplasty--13 years experience in a single centre.

OBJECTIVE: The study is a follow-up on treatment of renovascular hypertension (RVH) with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). METHODS: Patients were screened on the basis of clinical criteria of increased probability of RVH with renography and in selected cases with renal vein renin measurements. A positive work-up suggesting a functionally important renal artery stenosis led to renal angiography and PTRA if stenosis was confirmed; in 59%, an intravascular stent was inserted. RESULTS: Outcome of treatment was classified as follows - group I: normotensive without medication; group II: with improved control of blood pressure; group III: unchanged blood pressure control. Grouping was performed immediately after treatment, at 1 month, 6 months and at the latest follow-up. One hundred-and-twenty-two patients (124 atherosclerotic and 12 fibromuscular lesions) were treated during 13 years. Immediately after PTRA the patients were grouped as follows - I: 31%, II: 59%, III: 10%. At 1 month, I: 13%, II: 72%, III: 15%; at 6 months, I: 11%, II: 74%, III: 15%, and at the latest follow-up, I: 11%, II: 78%, III: 11%. There were few significant complications, and renal function remained on average stable. CONCLUSION: PTRA is an effective treatment of RVH in patients selected by signs of a flow-restricting stenosis. Twelve percent were normotensive after angioplasty and a further 77% had better controlled hypertension. Few complications were seen and renal function was on average unchanged as measured by serum creatinine.