Reversible renal insufficiency after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis.

Three patients developed reversible renal insufficiency after successfully performed PTA at the same time as their hypertension was beneficially influenced. The main cause of this complication probably is toxic effects of contrast medium in combination with the temporary occlusion of the renal artery during the PTA of kidneys with previously damaged parenchymal and impaired perfusion. During the phase of renal insufficiency contrast medium retention in the renal cortex was noted at computed tomography.