Treatment of complex stenoses involving renal artery bifurcations with use of drug-eluting stents.

Percutaneous angioplasty with stent placement is effective for the treatment of renal artery stenosis (RAS). RAS involving the bifurcation is technically challenging because of possible occlusion of a renal artery branch after stent implantation. The present report describes experiences in four patients with stenosis involving the renal artery bifurcation treated with drug-eluting stents (DESs). DESs were used instead of bare stents because of their potential advantage of lower restenosis rates. There was no evidence of restenosis on ultrasonography, with stable renal function and blood pressure at a median follow-up of 13 months.