Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and revascularization

Atherosclerotic renovascular disease is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. The patients with renovascular disease are at increased risk for adverse cardiac outcomes. Recent trials comparing medical therapy alone to medical therapy with stenting are flawed, but lay to rest any existing debate that unselected revascularization is unwarranted; however, revascularization may be appropriate in high-risk populations. Defining an appropriate population for revascularization is an area of ongoing study. Furthermore, delivery of optimal medical therapy in this population is inadequate. This review describes recent developments in renal artery revascularization.