Use of endovascular stents in atherosclerotic renovascular stenosis: blood pressure and renal function changes in hypertensive patients.

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis may result in hypertension and ischemic nephropathy. Renal artery endovascular stenting has emerged as current therapy; however, the percentage of patients who benefit from this procedure is still not well established. The authors studied 116 hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renovascular stenosis who underwent successful renal artery stenting for the first time. At 1 year, there was a significant overall decrease in blood pressure in the group after stenting; however, there was no change in renal function. Also, no significant change in the number of antihypertensive drugs was noted. Blood pressure improved in 55% of the patients, worsened in 14%, and remained unchanged in 31%. Renal function improved in 16% of the patients, worsened in 30%, and remained stable in 54%. In relation to blood pressure control, patients with resistant or difficult-to-control hypertension showed the most improvement in blood pressure control after stenting.