Renal artery stenting: one year outcome on BP control and antihypertensive medication

There is lot of controversy regarding the efficacy of renal artery stenting in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate blood pressure control and requirement of antihypertensive drugs after renal artery stenting.

Eighty patients who have undergone renal artery stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with hypertension were evaluated and followed up for one year. Those with procedural complications were excluded. The systolic and diastolic BP control, number of medications, their dosage and serum creatinine levels were assessed at 3 months and at one year. At the end of one year 3 patients had total cure (all 3 had bilateral renal artery stenting). In 30 patients, there was reduction in number of drugs and in 11 patients there was reduction in dosage of antihypertensive drugs. In 16 patients there was a need to change the class of drugs. In 16 patients same drugs and dosage were continued. In 4 patients, the dose was increased.

At the end of one year, 3 patients had cure, 44 patients improved and there was no change in 33 patients. Our results are comparable to other reported series. Renal artery stenting is a cost effective approach in properly selected patients of renal artery stenosis with hypertension.