Thirty-three patients with renal angiographic evidence of significant renal artery stenosis were referred for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The indications were poorly controlled hypertension (n=13) or hypertension associated with deteriorating renal function (n=20). Their mean age was 56 (23–73) years (12 males, 21 females). Causes of the renal artery stenosis were fibromuscular dysplasia (n=8) and atheromatous changes (n=25). Four patients were excluded, three due to technical failure. Forty-five angioplasties were performed in 29 patients with a mean observation period after angioplasty of 18 (one to 60) months. During this period eight patients (28 per cent) had a diastolic blood preasure of less than 90 mnHg without antihypertensive drugs, a further 15 patients (52 per cent) had improved blood pressure control with a significant reduction in the number and amount of antihypertensive drugs, but six patients (20 per cent) showed no improvement in blood pressure. Hypertension associated with the stenosis of fibromuscular dysplasia responded better to angioplasty than hypertension associated with atheromatous renal artery stenosis. Improvement in renal function was noted in eight patients with no change in 16 patients. Two patients with end-stage renal failure and atheromatous intrarenal vascular disease became dialysis dependent within four weeks of the procedure. One major and four minor complications occurred but there were no deaths related to angioplasty. Together with results from other centres this study indicates that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty should be considered the initial treatment choice for all patients with renovascular hypertension due to fibromuscular dysplasia and atheromatous renal artery stenos
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