Randomized clinical trials regarding management of atherosclerotic renovascular disease.

Prospective randomized clinical trials that support operative correction of atherosclerotic renovascular disease or catheter-based intervention compared with optimal medical management are lacking. Despite various limitations in study design, each of the five randomized trials reported to date had demonstrated no apparent benefit for renal artery intervention compared with medical management. Three ongoing randomized trials promise to provide additional data and the results of these latter studies will likely dictate future reimbursement through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.