Incidence and outcome of transplant renal artery stenosis: single center experience

Since the incidence of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) in renal allografts varies from 1% to 23%, we sought to examine its incidence, to analyze treatment options, and to ascertain its outcomes. Retrospective analysis of 793 kidney allograft recipients transplanted between 1996 and 2004 revealed an incidence of 0.9% (n = 7). Time from kidney transplantation to the first symptoms varied from 1 week to 3 years (median, 4 months). Three patients experiences refractory hypertension and six patients developed allograft dysfunction. Screening color Doppler ultrasonography showed hemodynamic changes in six patients with the definitive diagnosis confirmed by angiography in all patients. One patient with an anastomotic stenosis was treated with a surgical operation and six patients, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), with stenting in three cases. Both surgical as well as PTA treatment were successful in all but one patient, who underwent PTA alone, developed chronic renal insufficiency necessitating hemodialysis and finally lost his allograft. In the other patients all symptoms resolved after treatment and the patients are doing well with functioning allografts. Although TRAS was an uncommon complication, if recognized promptly it could be treated by surgery or PTA with a high success rate.