H�ufigkeit und Bedeutung von Nierenarterienstenosen bei Patienten mit peripherer arterieller Verschlu�krankheit

In order to evaluate the prevalence of renal artery stenoses and the coincidence with hypertension, in this study 110 patients (24 women, 86 men, mean age 63.2±8.6 years) underwent retrograde aortography for reason of symptomatic arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower limb arteries. In 18 (16.4%) patients renal artery stenoses by which the lumen was narrowed for more than 30% and in 2 (1.8%) patients occlusions of one renal artery were found, all of which seemed to be of arteriosclerotic origin. 12 (60%) patients with renal artery stenoses or occlusions showed arterial hypertension (RR 171±33/94±16 mmHg) inspite of adequate antihypertensive medication, 8 were normotensive even though renal artery stenoses were found angiographically. On the other hand 30 (33%) of the 90 patients without renal artery stenoses were hypertensive (RR 165±15/93±9 mmHg). These data support the observation that renal artery stenoses must not result in hypertension, but clearly indicate the higher prevalence of hypertension in patients with renal artery stenoses or occlusions. With regard to the low-risk procedure of percutaneous transluminal dilatation of renal arteries, it seems to be valuable for hypertensive patients to include renovasography into the angiographic evaluation of symptomatic lower limb arteriosclerosis.