RESUMO
PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in renovascular hypertension. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with renal artery stenosis and arterial hypertension underwent PTRA. There were 11 male and 12 female, 19 to 78 years old (45.8 +/- 17.41). In 20 lesions the diagnosis was atherosclerosis, in 7 fibromuscular dysplasia and in 1 Takayasu arteritis. Three patients underwent bilateral dilatation and 2 patients repeated the procedure due to restenosis. Two patients presented with acute renal failure and severe bilateral renal artery stenosis. RESULTS: There were 21 technical success in 25 procedures. After 20 satisfactory dilatations, clinical success followed in 17 (100% of cases of fibromuscular dysplasia cases and 77% of atherosclerosis. The fall in diastolic arterial pressure after PTRA was statistical significant (p < 0.001). In two cases acute renal failure the renal function became normal after angioplasty. There were 2 complications and no death attributed to PTRA. CONCLUSION: The method was effective and safe in the management of renovascular hypertension during the short-term follow-up. It was possible in two cases of acute renal failure to normalize renal function.