[Results of the French register of renal stenting: the Esternal study]

Renal artery angioplasty using the same techniques employed for coronary arteries has developed considerably. A register was set up in France to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment for improving renal function and lowering blood pressure in cardiac patients. Between 2001 and 2005, 205 patients (234 lesions) were treated in 14 centres (mean age: 69.2 +/- 10.4 years, 59% male). All of the patients had hypertension and the majority of them (171) had renal failure (creatinine clearance<90 ml/min). Direct implantation of a stent was performed in 75.2% of the cases, successfully in 196 patients (96%) with 220 lesions (95.2%). The complications encountered were segmental renal infarction in two patients (0.9%), and four cases of minor vascular complications at the puncture site (2%). The mean value for pre-implantation creatinine clearance was 54.6 +/- 32.8 ml/min and 58.1 +/- 36.0 post- implantations. The duration of follow up was 5.9 +/- 2.7 months. Mortality was 3.5% (seven patients, of whom two died from renal causes). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 142.2 +/- 16.2 and 78.9 +/- 9.5 respectively versus 164.9 +/- 25.2 and 89.1 +/- 14.8 before treatment (p<0.0001). A non-significant improvement in creatinine clearance at six months was also observed in patients with renal failure prior to treatment: 48.7 +/- 17.1 ml/min vs. 69.2 +/- 160.3. Renal artery stenting in cardiac patients with renal artery stenosis is associated with a very high success rate, with few complications and an improvement in hypertension and renal function.