To what extent does peripheral vascular disease and hypertension predict renal artery stenosis?

The incidence of renal artery stenosis (RAS) was prospectively evaluated by aortofemoral angiography in 100 patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) to find whether RAS was a more common finding in hypertensive than in normotensive patients. For a possible association with RAS, risk factors, clinical and angiographical variables were evaluated. Nephrotoxicity of the contrast medium Iohexol was elucidated. A follow-up of six month was performed in patients with severe stenosis or total occlusion of the renal arteries. Of the 49 patients with a renal artery lesion 26.5% were normotensive and 73.5% hypertensive. Hypertension was significantly correlated to RAS. Reconstructive vascular procedures were during the follow-up performed in 47.3% of the patients with severe RAS or occluded renal arteries, two patients underwent a renal artery revascularization, none of them got a postoperative blood pressure decrease. Hypertension in patients with peripheral vascular disease is predictive for renal artery stenosis and a possible renovascular hypertension should be evaluated. Surgery for renal artery stenosis in peripheral vascular diseased patients should, however, probably be performed firstly to reduce the risk for occlusion. The effect on the blood pressure can not be predicted without a more careful analysis that the blood pressure is renin-dependent. Iohexol showed low nephrotoxicity, also in patients with renal artery disease.