Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the renal arteries

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis has proved highly efficacious, particularly in patients with lateralizing renal vein renin ratios, fibromuscular dysplasia, and atherosclerotic lesions confined to one renal artery without involvement of the aortic wall surrounding the renal ostium. In some series, a moderate recurrence rate has been reported, but these recurrences usually respond well to redilatation. Complications are relatively rare and generally not serious. Early results compare favorably with those of large surgical series. Some of the disparities in published results of renal PTA may be accounted for by differences in technique. Important advances in both equipment and PTA technique have occurred since the procedure was introduced in 1978; these may prove to favorably affect the long-term results.