Cure and improvement of renovascular hypertension after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of renal artery stenosis.

In the present study we report our long-term experience in 82 patients with renovascular hypertension (48 with atherosclerotic stenosis, 34 with fibromuscular dysplasia) who were followed up for a mean observation period of 23.6 months after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis. Our results show a highly significant decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cure rates were slightly higher in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia (41% cured, 47% improved) than in those with atherosclerosis (23% cured, 54% improved). Kidney function significantly improved in patients with cure, remained stable in those with improvement and worsened in cases classified as unimproved. These results document the good long-term effect of PTA on blood pressure and kidney function in patients with renal artery stenosis.