Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a narrowing of the arteries to one or both of the kidneys that can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and, sometimes, reduced kidney function and size (atrophy ). It occurs more commonly in older people with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries with plaque buildup, leading to narrowing of the channel where the blood flows). Hypertension caused by RAS is called secondary hypertension . This means that, unlike essential or primary hypertension (the most common form of high blood pressure, which does not have a specific known cause), secondary hypertension does have a specific cause. In some cases, diagnosing and treating RAS can result in decreasing or eliminating the need to take medication for hypertension. The narrowing of the kidney arteries in RAS is usually due to atherosclerosis; more rarely it can be caused by abnormal growth of tissue within the wall of the artery. The latter condition, called fibromuscular dysplasia , is potentially curable and is more common in women and younger age groups but can also occur later in life. When atherosclerosis is the cause of RAS, it is especially important to be evaluated and treated for related diseases of the heart and brain, since they are also susceptible to narrowed arteries. Atherosclerosis in those organs can lead to heart attack or stroke. The November 5, 2008, issue of JAMA includes an article about an 82-year-old woman with hypertension and renal artery stenosis.
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Most often, renal artery stenosis does not cause any specific symptoms. Rarely, a person may have symptoms related to high blood pressure such as fatigue, headache, or dizziness.
New onset of high blood pressure in someone younger than 35 or older than 55
Worsening control of previously well-controlled hypertension, or very high blood pressure, especially if it is affecting other organs in the body
Blood tests and urine tests to evaluate kidney function
Kidney ultrasound visualizes the size and structure of the kidney by recording the echoes of sound waves. Doppler ultrasound measures the speed of the blood flow within the arteries to the kidney.
Magnetic resonance arteriogram and computed tomographic angiography are imaging studies that use contrast medium (special dye) to produce a 3-dimensional image of the kidney and its blood vessels.
Take medication to control blood pressure. This may require 3 or more different drugs.
Don't smoke.
Control diabetes if it is present.
Control cholesterol, taking medications if necessary.
Renal (kidney) artery angioplasty (insertion of a balloon into the narrowed artery to open it) and stenting (inserting a tube inside the artery to hold the walls open) are only done if blood pressure cannot be controlled with medications or if blood tests indicate a significant worsening of kidney function.
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Source: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th edition
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