Renal Artery Stenosis

Renal Artery Stenosis: Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing of one or both arteries that deliver blood to the kidneys. The narrowing is commonly caused by atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits build up inside the arteries, or by fibromuscular dysplasia, a disorder that affects the walls of the arteries.

Decreased blood supply to the kidneys results in the production of hormones that increase blood pressure. Often it causes difficult-to-regulate hypertension.
In the early stages symptoms may not be obvious, which makes the disorder challenging to identify. As it advances, patients may have high blood pressure, kidney function decline, fluid retention, or swelling in the legs. If left untreated, renal artery stenosis can cause chronic kidney disease or kidney failure in severe circumstances.
Imaging techniques, such as Doppler ultrasound, CT angiography or magnetic resonance angiography, may be used to diagnose the condition by looking at the blood flow and identifying any blockages. Treatment varies by severity and may include lifestyle changes, blood pressure medications, cholesterol-reducing pharmaceuticals or surgeries such as angioplasty and stent implantation to re-establish blood flow.

Proper management and early identification are important for safeguarding kidney health and preventing long-term cardiovascular and renal problems in affected patients.