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Renal artery stenosis

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Kidney anatomy
Kidney anatomy
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Kidney blood supply
Kidney blood supply

Alternative Names    Return to top

Renal artery occlusion; Stenosis - renal artery; Occlusion - renal artery; Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD)

Definition    Return to top

Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing or blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the kidney.

See also: Atheroembolic renal disease

Causes    Return to top

Renal artery stenosis is caused by:

Symptoms    Return to top

There are usually no symptoms.

Exams and Tests    Return to top

The doctor may hear a loud whooshing sound, called a bruit, when listening to the kidney area with a stethoscope.

A blood pressure reading may be high. The patient may have a history of high blood pressure that is hard to control or does not get better with medicine.

Imaging tests may show that the kidney is smaller or a decrease in blood flow because of a narrowed artery. Such tests may include:

A renal arteriogram shows the exact location of the blocked area.

This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:

Treatment    Return to top

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. If only one artery is involved, the second kidney may be able to filter and produce urine.

Surgery may be needed in some cases. Alternatives to surgery include a balloon angioplasty or stenting.

Medications may be needed to control high blood pressure. Renal hypertension caused by this condition may be difficult to treat. For treatment information, see the article on renal hypertension.

Possible Complications    Return to top

Renal artery stenosis may cause chronic kidney failure if:

Additional complications:

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Discuss your medical history with your health care provider to determine if you are at risk for this condition.

Decreased urine volume may be an emergency sign of kidney failure.

Prevention    Return to top

Some cases of renal artery stenosis may be prevented by avoiding smoking.

References    Return to top

Safian RD, Textor SC. Renal-artery stenosis. N Engl J Med.2001;344:431-442.

White CJ. Catheter-based therapy for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Circulation. 2006;113:1464-1473.

Balk E, Raman G, Chung M, Ip S, Tatsioni A, Alonso A, et al. Effectiveness of management strategies for renal artery stenosis: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:901-912.

Textor SC. Renovascular hypertension update. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2006;8:521-527.

Update Date: 4/14/2008

Updated by: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.