Dilation of renal artery stenosis after administration of losartan

Transluminal angioplasty with a balloon catheter is effective to dilate renal artery stenosis (RAS) caused by fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), but lesions resistant to the angioplasty exist. In this report, we describe the case of a young woman with RAS of FMD that was difficult to dilate even by cutting-balloon angioplasty. To facilitate the formation of a smooth intimal covering at the site of angioplasty, we administered losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, for 4 months after the angioplasty. Although re-stenosis was detected at 5 months after the angioplasty, the normotensive state continued without antihypertensives and the re-stenosis gradually dilated afterwards. The present case suggests the possibility of remodeling the renal artery during the normotensive state by administering losartan after the angioplasty.