Management of Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis: Interventional Versus Medical Therapy

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the most common secondary cause of hypertension, and often results in hypertension that is difficult to control. Atherosclerotic RAS may also result in chronic renal insufficiency, and although controversial, likely leads to end-stage renal failure in a subset of patients. Bilateral RAS, or stenosis to a solitary functioning kidney, has resulted in recurrent episodes of "flash" pulmonary edema and unstable angina pectoris. Despite these serious sequelae of RAS, there remains no consensus on optimal therapy. Invasive therapy (endovascular percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, with or without stent deployment; surgical revascularization) has generated significant interest among interventional physician specialists. However, effective antihypertensive therapy may be a reasonable option in certain scenarios.     

The Medical and Endovascular Treatment of Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis (METRAS) study: rationale and study design

It is unclear whether revascularization of renal artery stenosis (RAS) by means of percutaneous renal angioplasty and stenting (PTRAS) is advantageous over optimal medical therapy. Hence, we designed a randomized clinical trial based on an optimized patient selection strategy and hard experimental endpoints. Primary objective of this study is to determine whether PTRAS is superior or equivalent to optimal medical treatment for preserving glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the ischemic kidney as assessed by 99mTcDTPA sequential renal scintiscan. Secondary objectives of this study are to establish whether the two treatments are equivalent in lowering blood pressure, preserving overall renal function and regressing target organ damage, preventing cardiovascular events and improving quality of life. The study is designed as a prospective multicentre randomized, un-blinded two-arm study. Eligible patients will have clinical and angio-CT evidence of RAS. Inclusion criteria is RAS affecting the main renal artery or its major branches either >70% or, if <70, with post-stenotic dilatation. Renal function will be assessed with 99mTc-DTPA renal scintigraphy. Patients will be randomized to either arms considering both resistance index value in the ischemic kidney and the presence of unilateral/bilateral stenosis. Primary experimental endpoint will be the GFR of the ischemic kidney, assessed as quantitative variable by 99TcDTPA, and the loss of ischemic kidney defined as a categorical variable.     

冠状动脉病变与肾动脉粥样硬化性狭窄

目的探讨动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄(ARAS)与脉压及其他相关因素的关系。方法553例入选病例在冠脉造影后行非选择性肾动脉造影,应用多变量Logistic回归分析评价脉压及其他临床因素和ARAS的关系。结果连续3年入选553例患者,24例(4.3%)有轻度肾血管病变(腔径狭窄<50%),84例(15.2%)ARAS(腔径狭窄≥50%),冠心病者ARAS(22.6%vs2.0%)及肾血管病变(5.9%vs1.5%)发生率明显高于非冠心病者。多因素Logistic逐步回归分析显示冠脉狭窄程度、脉压、血肌酐是ARAS发生的独立危险因素。结论ARAS与冠心病冠脉病变程度密切相关。脉压和血肌酐升高是ARAS的独立危险因素。     

冠状动脉病变与肾动脉粥样硬化性狭窄

目的探讨动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄(ARAS)与脉压及其他相关因素的关系.方法553例入选病例在冠脉造影后行非选择性肾动脉造影,应用多变量Logistic回归分析评价脉压及其他临床因素和ARAS的关系.结果连续3年入选553例患者,24例(4.3%)有轻度肾血管病变(腔径狭窄＜50%),84例(15.2%)ARAS(腔径狭窄≥50%),冠心病者ARAS(22.6%vs 2.0%)及肾血管病变(5.9%vs 1.5%)发生率明显高于非冠心病者.多因素Logistic逐步回归分析显示冠脉狭窄程度、脉压、血肌酐是ARAS发生的独立危险因素.结论ARAS与冠心病冠脉病变程度密切相关.脉压和血肌酐升高是ARAS的独立危险因素.     

动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄的发生率及其相关危险因素分析

目的 对疑似冠心病或急性、慢性心肌梗死的患者进行冠状动脉造影及肾动脉造影,分析动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄的发生率及其相关危险因素.方法 对279例接受冠状动脉造影的患者进行腹主动脉数字减影血管造影检查.结果 279例患者中,动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄(≥30%)发生率为28.7%;经冠状动脉造影证实的175例冠心病患者中,肾动脉狭窄(≥30%)的发生率为34.3%;冠状动脉造影完全正常的104例患者中,20例有肾动脉狭窄,冠状动脉多支病变发生肾动脉狭窄的机率增加;多因素Logistic回归分析显示,吸烟、脉压、血肌酐及冠状动脉狭窄积分是动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄的相关预测因素.结论 对冠心病合并高血压的患者,冠状动脉造影时应常规进行腹主动脉造影检查,以尽早发现动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄.     

冠心病伴肾动脉狭窄的患病率及相关因素研究

目的探讨冠心病患者中肾动脉狭窄(ARAS)的患病率及其相关因素。方法228例冠脉造影患者同时行选择性双肾动脉造影检查,对临床资料和ARAS之间的关系进行单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析。结果228例患者中,ARAS患病率为19.7%;经冠脉造影证实的152例冠心病患者中,ARAS患病率为27.6%;51例冠心病合并颈动脉粥样斑块的患者中,ARAS患病率为49.0%。45例ARAS患者中,左肾动脉狭窄的患病率显著高于右肾动脉(P<0.05)。单因素分析表明,年龄、糖尿病、肾功能不全、颈动脉粥样斑块、冠心病是ARAS的预测因素。多元Logistic回归分析表明,仅年龄、颈动脉粥样斑块、冠脉三支病变是ARAS的独立预测因素。结论对于冠心病患者,尤其是年龄≥60岁及合并颈动脉粥样斑块的患者,冠脉造影后应常规行肾动脉造影,以便早期发现ARAS。     

Management of Renal Artery Stenosis: The Case for Intervention,Defending Current Guidelines,and Screening (Drive-By) Renal Angiography at the Time of Catheterization

There is little debate that an untreated significant obstruction of blood flow to the kidney, most often due to atherosclerosis, is potentially hazardous to the health of patients. The treatment of atherosclerotic renovascular disease has evolved over the past 20 years from open surgery with its inherent morbidity and risk of mortality to percutaneous endovascular treatment with stents. The current debate is on the question of which patients are offered any additional advantage by revascularization for renal artery stenosis over medications alone. The primary issue is patient selection, including the most appropriate screening strategies for renal artery stenosis, which must be balanced against the risk of procedure-related complications. The goal of this paper is to explore the most appropriate utilization of revascularization with renal stent placement.     

The Current Status of Angioplasty of Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis for the Treatment of Hypertension

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, a fairly common disease of older persons, is a manifestation of generalized atherosclerosis, and is often associated with coronary artery disease. It is frequently associated with hypertension and impaired renal function, and is perceived by many physicians to be the cause of hypertension and renal failure. For this reason, they believe that hypertension can be cured by performing percutaneous renal artery angioplasty (PTRA) with stent placement. This practice has led to an increase in angioplasties, especially by interventional cardiologists, although the results from several randomized studies comparing interventional therapy with medical therapy have shown no significant difference between the two treatment modalities in blood pressure reduction or change in renal function. Similar results have been found by nonrandomized trials with selective PTRA. For this review, a Medline search of the English literature was conducted from 2006 to 2012, and 13 pertinent studies were selected. These studies with collateral literature will be discussed in this concise review.