Experience with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in renovascular hypertension

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) was attempted in 17 patients with a diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95 mmHg in spite of treatment with two or three antihypertensive drugs in combination and unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis with a reduction of vessel diameter to less than 25%. PTRA resulted in a dilatation of the stenosis in 12 patients. After an observation period of at least 6 months 2 patients were cured, 7 improved and 3 unchanged. Renal vein renin ratio (RVRR) was determined in the last 9 of these patients but was unknown when PTRA was done. RVRR was higher than 1.5 in 5 patients of whom one was cured and 4 improved and less than 1.5 in 4 of whom one was improved and 3 unchanged. No persistent complications were observed after PTRA. It can be concluded that PTRA is an effective antihypertensive treatment in several patients with renovascular hypertension, and a RVRR greater than 1.5 suggests a favourable outcome with regard to blood pressure regulation.