[Treatment of renovascular hypertension by catheter dilatation (author's transl)]

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renal artery obstructions was performed in 10 cases. In 7 patients the hypertension was successfully treated and in one patient renal function could be restored. The procedure can be applied in atherosclerotic and fibromuscular stenoses as well as in stenosis of kidney grafts. In our opinion catheter dilatation should be prefered to vascular surgery, because it is efficient and inexpensive and has a low risk. Operation should be reserved to cases untreatable with angioplasty.