The Value of the Renal Biopsy in Unilateral Renovascular Hypertension

Abstract

Renal biopsies from 15 patients with unilateral renal arterial hypertension have been evaluated. In all cases, biopsies of the ipsilateral (''ischemic'') kidney were obtained. In 10 cases, biopsies of the contra-lateral (''non-ischemic'') kidney were also obtained. An inverse correlation was found between the results of renal revascularization and the amount of tubular atrophy and interstitial scarring of the ischemic'' kidney. Other pathologic parameters, including juxtaglomerular size and granularity and degree of arteriolar hyalinosis, showed little prognostic significance. With unilateral renal artery stenosis, renal revascularization generally will not significantly reduce elevated arterial pressure in the presence of severe ipsilateral tubular atrophy and interstitial scarring.