Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Renal Artery Stenosis in a Solitary Functioning Kidney

Abstract

In 5 patients with hypertension and marked impairment of renal function due to renal artery stenosis in a solitary functioning kidney, a nonsurgical technique, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, was used to dilate the stenotic renal artery. Blood pressure improved in all 5 patients, and renal function improved in 3. One patient subsequently died of multiple cardiovascular complications, and in 1 patient the procedure resulted in acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Although preliminary, this experience suggests that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty may provide an alternative to surgery in severely ill patients at high surgical risk.