Renal artery stenosis: Changes in intrarenal doppler waveform following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Purpose: To examine the extent of the changes in the intrarenal spectral waveform patterns after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and whether there is a correlation with the angiographic and clinical results. Methods: In 44 patients with 68 PTAs we analyzed the intrarenal spectral waveform regarding the existence of a tardus–parvus pattern before and after PTA. Results: In 51 of the 60 cases with a tardus–parvus pattern prior to PTA, a complete normalization of the spectral waveform was noted. There was no correlation between the Doppler result after PTA and the angiographic and clinical result. In contrast there was a significant correlation between the Doppler result before PTA and the clinical outcome: patients with a normal intrarenal spectral waveform before PTA showed no improvement in their arterial hypertension. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a patient with a normal spectral waveform analysis does not response to PTA. However, there is still an unpredictable clinical response even if a patient has an abnormal intrarenal spectral waveform prior to PTA and a complete normalization after PTA.