Renal artery stenosis: an update on diagnosis and management

Reno-vascular disease, along with diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of dialysis in the elderly population, accounting for 50-66% of cases in patients above 65 years of age. Reno-vascular disease is a broad term, which includes renal artery stenosis, ischemic nephropathy, such as atherosclerotic obstruction, thrombo-embolic phenomenon, nephrosclerosis secondary to hypertension and acute occlusion of renal arteries (either bilateral or unilateral in singlekidney patients). Renal artery stenosis, defined as a 50% or greater occlusion of a renal artery (unilateral or bilateral), is an important cause of secondary hypertension. It often presents as drug refractory hypertension or renal insufficiency. Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis accounts for 90% of such cases, the remaining 10% being caused by fibro-muscular dysplasia. The incidence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is increasing among the aging population, who are at an increased risk due to cardiovascular complications. This is a review of the emerging trends in the diagnosis and management of renal artery stenosis.