Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for renovascular hypertension in children

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has been developed over the past 8 years as an alternative to reconstructive surgery for renovascular hypertension. We report three cases and review the use of PTA in children with renal artery stenosis. At least 37 cases of PTA have been reported in patients whose ages ranged from 1.3 to 17 years (mean 10 years). Of these, 10 had fibromuscular dysplasia; 13 unspecified unilateral renal artery stenosis; 4 bilateral stenosis; 4 neurofibromatosis; 4 renal transplant; 1 atherosclerosis; and 1 postsurgical stenosis. Nine of 10 patients with fibromuscular dysplasia were cured and 3 of 4 with renal transplant arterial stenosis were cured or improved. There were 11 failures of PTA, including all 4 patients with neurofibromatosis and 1 with transplant arterial stenosis. We conclude that PTA is the treatment of choice for children with hypertension due to fibromuscular dysplasia and should be attempted for stenosis of the transplanted renal artery. Other lesions resulting in renal artery stenosis may not be as amenable to dilation and should be considered on an individual basis.R. L. Chevalier is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association     

经皮血管成形术治疗肌纤维发育不良型肾动脉狭窄的临床疗效

目的评价经皮血管腔内血管成形术(PTA)治疗肾动脉肌纤维性发育不良的疗效及安全性。方法选择肌纤维发育不良型肾动脉狭窄患者32例(均合并2~3级高血压或难治性高血压),行经皮肾动脉成形术治疗。术后随访观察患者血压、药物治疗种类、术后再狭窄、生存率和并发症等。结果 PTA技术成功率93.94%(31/33)。术前、术后收缩压分别为(189.6±26.0)mmHg、(136.6±8.0)mmHg(t=9.117,P0.001),舒张压分别为(121.6±21.7)mmHg、(81.1±11.5)mmHg(t=7.745,P0.001)。无肾动脉破裂、夹层、分支堵塞及血栓形成等相关并发症和术后不良事件发生。术后随访时间5~100个月,平均(40.4±26.1)个月,患者生存率100%(32/32)。结论经皮血管成形术治疗肌纤维发育不良肾动脉狭窄安全、有效。     

Treatment of renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia with balloon angioplasty: a prospective follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: to assess restenosis rates and blood pressure response after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in patients treated for fibromuscular dysplastic renal artery stenosis. METHODS: a prospective 12-month follow-up study of 27 patients with 31 treated renal artery stenosis. Follow-up assessment included colour-coded duplex sonography (CCD) of renal arteries, monitoring of blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, and creatinine measurements before discharge and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Primary end point was defined as a haemodynamically significant restenosis >60% assessed by CCD. RESULTS: there was a cumulative 23% restenosis rate at 12 months. Arterial hypertension was cured or improved in 93% of patients immediately after the intervention and remained cured/improved in 74% of patients at 12 months of follow-up. Renal failure present in five patients before PTRA stabilised or improved in all patients. CONCLUSION: although restenosis rate after PTRA in fibromuscular dysplasia is as high as in non-ostial atherosclerotic lesions, there remains a considerable higher therapeutic effect. Profound pressure response and recurrent arterial hypertension with restenosis support the high probability of a renovascular origin of arterial hypertension in this young and otherwise healthy population compared to patients with atherosclerotic renal artery lesions.     

Results of renal artery balloon angioplasty limit its indications

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) of 83 renal artery lesions in 55 patients was done because of renal failure in eight patients, hypertension in 35, renal failure and hypertension in 11, and polycythemia in one patient. Early results in 38 patients with arteriosclerosis showed five (13%) were worse and 13 (34%) were unchanged. Twenty patients (53%) with arteriosclerosis were initially cured or improved; however, seven of these patients had recurrence in 4 to 48 months. Ultimately, only 13 of 38 patients with arteriosclerosis (34%) were cured or improved (mean follow-up 22 months). Nine patients with fibromuscular dysplasia required 17 dilatations of arteries (three bilateral and five repeat), resulting in eight patients (89%) who were cured or improved. Selection of patients with hypertension by medical failure while receiving three or more hypertension medications or by lateralizing renal vein renin values yielded benefit in 17 of 26 patients (65%). Five of six patients with transplant stenosis of the renal artery and hypertension were cured or improved at mean follow-up of 18 months. Overall technical results of 83 artery dilatations were as follows: good, 58 (69%); fair, 10 (12%); poor or unsatisfactory, 16 (19%); these were judged with a blinded radiologic review. No patient suffered main renal artery thrombosis. There were 16 patients with complications of dilatation (morbidity rate of 29%). Nine patients subsequently had renal artery surgery from the same day to 64 days later with good results in all patients except one.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Long-term outcome after surgical kidney revascularization for fibromuscular dysplasia and atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis

PURPOSE: At a time of minimally invasive surgery in urology, the role of surgical kidney revascularization in the management of renal artery disease has changed during the last decade. Our experience with surgical kidney revascularization, and the long-term clinical outcomes of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis are reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 140 patients with renovascular hypertension, 72 with FMD and 68 with atherosclerotic renal artery disease, who underwent surgical revascularization between 1982 and 1999. The indications for surgical revascularization were the treatment of hypertension and the preservation of renal function in 17 patients with renal artery occlusion, 55 with ostial stenosis, 52 with branch stenosis, 6 with bilateral artery stenosis, 7 with solitary kidney renal artery stenosis and 3 with solitary kidney renal artery occlusion. RESULTS: Postoperative blood pressure and renal function were monitored for 1 to 17 years (mean 11.3). Long-term blood pressure control was observed in 93% of patients with FMD and in 71% of those with atherosclerosis. Improvement or stabilization of renal function was observed in 92% of patients with FMD and in 68% of those with atherosclerosis. The preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to postoperative was significantly increased in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical kidney revascularization is effective in secondary hypertension with a high long-term efficacy in the normalization of blood pressure and in the preservation of renal function, especially in patients with a solitary or 1 functional kidney.     

Long-term prognosis of surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension: a fifteen-year experience

To determine the long-term prognosis for hypertension control, mortality, renal function, and maintenance of renal blood flow in patients operated on to control renovascular hypertension, we studied 60 patients managed surgically between 1969 and 1984. Thirty-six patients had atherosclerotic disease, 22 had fibromuscular dysplasia, one had neurofibromatosis, and one had a combination of atherosclerosis and pyelonephritis. We confined the analysis to the 58 patients with pure atherosclerosis or fibromuscular dysplasia. In the atherosclerosis group 14 patients died and the results of hypertension control in the remaining 22 were classified as cured, three (14%); improved, 15 (68%); failed, one (5%); and unknown, three (14%). In the fibromuscular dysplasia group one patient died and results of hypertension control in the remaining 21 patients were (1) cured, 10 (48%); improved, 10 (48%); and failed, one (5%). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 79% and 40%, respectively, for the atherosclerosis group and 95% and 89%, respectively, for the fibromuscular dysplasia group. Renal function was well maintained for patients in both groups. The mean serum creatinine value was 1.4 mg/dl in the atherosclerosis group and 1.0 mg/dl in the fibromuscular dysplasia group. To evaluate the effect of operation on the maintenance of renal blood flow we compared the blood flow of the operated and unoperated sides in patients who had a unilateral operation and had a second kidney for comparison. Eight of these patients had scans in each of the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

经皮血管成形术治疗移植肾动脉狭窄的临床研究

目的 评估经皮血管成形术在治疗移植肾动脉狭窄(TRAS)导致的移植肾功能损害和(或)高血压中的效果.方法 回顾性分析1998年7月至2007年1月经皮肾动脉造影明确诊断为移植肾动脉狭窄的16例患者的临床资料.在16例患者被确诊前先行多普勒超声检查,有13例被发现TRAS,3例阴性,假阴性率为18.75%.对16例TRAS患者均采取经皮血管成形术治疗.术后对患者进行了3年的随访,分别在术后1周、6个月、1年、2年和3年时评估肾功能和高血压改善状况.以平均动脉压较术前下降至少15%定义为高血压改善;以血清肌酐降低至少20%定义为移植肾功能改善.结果 经皮血管成形术成功率100%,16例患者经治疗后均获临床治愈.术后1周、6个月、1年、2年和3年时,肾功能改善率分别为81.25%、68.75%、62.5%、56.25%和50%,高血压改善率分别为62.5%、75%、75%、56.25%和50%,所有患者服用降血压药物的种类和用量均减少.结论 经皮血管成形术对TRAS导致的肾功能损害和高血压有明显的改善作用,是安全和有效的治疗方法 .     

肾动脉狭窄的介入治疗分析

目的 分析介入治疗肾动脉狭窄（RAS）的疗效。方法自2003年3月至2008年3月共收治45例RAS患者,53支肾动脉中单纯行腔内球囊扩张术（PTA）治疗11支,行球囊扩张及内置支架术（PTA／Stent）治疗者42支,随访9～48个月,检测患者的血压与血肌酐水平,并作肾动脉彩超。结果手术成功率为100％。手术后高血压治愈者9例,改善28例,肾功能改善12例。肌纤维发育不良及多发性大动脉炎的血压改善有效率均为100％,高于动脉粥样硬化的有效率65．1％（P〈0．05）。行彩色多普勒超声检查肾动脉18支,发现再狭窄者7支。结论PTA和PTMStent治疗肾动脉狭窄具有微创、安全、有效的优点。     

Early diagnosis and management of renovascular hypertension

Renovascular hypertension is more common in hypertensive children than in hypertensive adults, and renal artery stenosis is second only to coarctation of the thoracic aorta as a cause of surgically correctable hypertension. Three infants presented with uncontrollable hypertension secondary to renal artery thrombosis due to umbilical artery catheterization for respiratory distress in the neonatal period. They all responded to nephrectomy. A fourth infant had stenosis of a polar vessel secondary to umbilical artery catheterization and was cured by partial nephrectomy. Two infants with renal artery stenosis secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia benefited from revascularization and, at last follow-up, were normotensive and off all blood pressure medication. Ultrasonography, isotope scanning, angiography and selective renal vein renin assays should be used to identify patients with surgically correctable lesions. The use of fine suture material and microvascular surgical techniques, including ex vivo revascularization and autotransplantation, can salvage renal parenchyma and relieve hypertension. Infants with less than 10 percent renal function on the involved side should have a nephrectomy. The infant with an umbilical arterial catheterization line needs blood pressure monitoring and aggressive evaluation and treatment of persistent hypertension.     

A preliminary study of the role of duplex scanning in defining the adequacy of treatment of patients with renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia.

Renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia is a well-known cause of hypertension whose presence is confirmed by its typical arteriographic appearance. The functional significance of these lesions is often difficult to determine, particularly when both renal arteries are involved. Duplex scanning has been shown to be accurate for the detection of renal artery stenosis and estimation of the degree of narrowing. To test whether duplex scanning results after intervention correlate with clinical outcome, we reviewed the studies on nine patients with renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia who had been treated by either angioplasty or surgery. A total of 18 arteries were treated. Fourteen of the 18 treatments were successful as measured by a reduction in blood pressure and antihypertensive drugs. In four instances treatment was unsuccessful. For those patients who had clinical improvement, the hemodynamic parameters from the renal artery also improved. In the patients for whom treatment failed, the velocities recorded from the site of narrowing did not improve after intervention. Thus it appears that duplex scanning along with the clinical results may be used to document the basis for failing to improve after treatment be it angioplasty or operation.     

Long-term follow-up study of renal autotransplantation in reno-vascular hypertension

Therapeutic effects of heterotopic renal transplantation for renovascular hypertension were evaluated in ten patients with a follow-up period of more than three years. These ten patients consisted of 4 males and 6 females with the range of age from 21 to 55. The causes of renovascular hypertension were fibromuscular dysplasia in five patients, atherosclerosis in 3 and aortitis syndrome in 2. All the ten patients had a unilateral stenosis of the renal artery. At 3 years after operation, the blood pressure fell to normal range without any medication in 9 patients (90%) and it could be controlled with antihypertensive drugs in the remaining one patient. Operative mortality or deterioration of graft function was not experienced in any of them. One of the female patients had three deliveries after operation. The heterotopic renal autotransplantation is a therapeutic method to be selected for renovascular hypertension, since excellent and stable long-term results can be achieved.     

Percutaneous transluminal renal artery dilatation for fibromuscular dysplasia with special reference to the acute effects on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and blood pressure

Twelve hypertensive patients (mean age 46.6 years, range 37-55 years) with fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery were treated with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) and the effects on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and blood pressure were studied in the acute phase. The technical result of PTRA measured by angiography and reduction of PRA and aldosterone excretion was satisfactory in 11 patients. In spite of this only three patients were cured of their hypertension and two patients were improved at six months follow-up. During PTRA an immediate rise in plasma renin activity was noted in patients without beta-receptor blockade but not in patients treated with beta-receptor blocking agents suggesting a beta-receptor mediated release. This peak in renin release was not accompanied by any rise in systemic blood pressure. The blood pressure response in the acute phase did not show any regular pattern. We conclude that PTRA can serve as a model for studying effects of 'clamping' and 'declamping' of the renal artery in man.     

经皮穿刺血管成形术治疗移植肾动脉狭窄

为了观察血管成形术在移植肾动脉狭窄的治疗作用。我们将18例移植肾动脉狭窄并高血压的患者进行了血管成形术治疗。疗效以临床随访、血管造影和超声追踪为评价。结果18例患者手术均成功，成形术后，所有患者均治愈。认为血管成形术是移植肾动脉狭窄所致长期高血压和肾功能减退的有效的和首选的治疗方法。     

Extracorporeal renal artery reconstruction for renovascular hypertension

Extracorporeal reconstruction can be applied to the successful repair of stenoses in the distal renal artery and its hilar branches. This study evaluates the short- and long-term results of extracorporeal renal artery reconstruction in 65 patients, including 5 children, with renovascular hypertension who were treated from 1974 through 1989. The mean age of the patients was 37 years (range, 7 to 67 years). The cause of the stenoses was arteriosclerosis in 8 patients, fibrodysplasia in 54 patients, and miscellaneous in 3. Hypertension was severe before treatment with a mean blood pressure of 187/147 mm Hg that was reduced to a mean of 159/102 mm Hg after medical therapy. Ten patients had renal dysfunction. Results were evaluated both at short-term intervals (mean, 7.9 months; 64 patients) and long-term intervals (mean, 5.9 years; 60 patients), after surgery. Blood pressure responses were classified as beneficial (cured/improved) or failures. Anatomic results were evaluated by angiography in 98% of the patients at the short-term interval and in 77% of the patients at the long-term interval. Extracorporeal renal artery surgery was performed on 78 kidneys among 65 patients (unilateral, 45 patients; bilateral, 13 patients; unilateral extracorporeal and contralateral in situ, 7 patients). In most of the cases autologous arterial graft was used for reconstruction. Early in the series one patient died as a result of the operative procedure (1/65, 1.5%). A beneficial blood pressure response occurred in 53 patients (53/65; 82%) at the short-term interval and in 49 patients (49/61; 80%) at the long-term interval, with the average blood pressure at the short-term interval being 138/85 mm Hg and at the long-term interval being 139/85 mm Hg. Renal function improved in all patients with preoperative renal dysfunction. Graft stenosis or occlusion of the main renal artery was neither observed at the short-term interval nor at the long-term interval. However, residual stenoses were observed in 9 of the 163 reconstructed distal branches (5.5%). Extracorporeal renal artery reconstruction with autologous arterial grafts can be effectively applied to lesions of the distal main renal artery and its hilar branches with durable functional results.     

Long-term Results After Surgical Reconstruction for Renal Artery Fibromuscular Dysplasia

OBJECTIVES: To study the initial and long-term results of surgery for renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia (RFMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing renal artery reconstruction (RAR) performed for RFMD between January 1980 and December 1997, were studied. The preprocedural and postprocedural clinical records of 101 patients (80 women, 21 men; mean age at surgery 43 years) were retrospectively reviewed. All surviving patients were invited for clinical reexamination and colour-coded duplex-ultrasound of the renal arteries (RA). RESULTS: Initial technical success was achieved in 83 of 93 patients (89%), in whom postoperative angiography (90) or renal scintigraphy (three) were performed for assessment of RAR. Early occlusion (four) or stenosis (one) demanded reoperation in five patients (5%). The 30-day mortality and morbidity were 2% and 12% for the entire group. Primary patency rate was 74% at 5 years. Fifteen patients had to be reoperated for restenosis after a mean time of 33 months, resulting in a secondary patency rate of 85% after 5 years. In 61 patients with patent RAR at the time of re-examination, arterial hypertension was cured only in 22 (36%) and improvement in 19 (31%). CONCLUSION: Vascular surgery for RFMD yields good long-term results as to kidney perfusion and function. Surveillance of RAR-patency by means of ultrasound examination is mandatory in case of recurrence of arterial hypertension or deterioration. Rates of cure of hypertension are disappointing.     

Reconstruction for renal artery aneurysm and its effect on hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: many renal artery aneurysms (RAA) are diagnosed incidentally in the course of investigations for hypertension and their management is controversial. AIM: to review the results of renal artery reconstruction for RAA. METHODS: between January 1978 and December 1998 111 RAR were performed in 81 kidneys in 71 patients. RESULTS: fifty-nine patients were hypertensive, three had a creatinine >2.0 mg/dl and one was on dialysis. The principal underlying pathology was fibromuscular dysplasia (39) and atherosclerosis (17). The mean RAA diameter was 2.2 (range 1-15) cm overall and 3.5 (range 2-10) cm in four patients who presented with rupture. Fifty-one patients had renal artery stenosis. Autogenous material was used in 105 RAR. There was no 30-day mortality and the morbidity rate was 16%. The 5-year cumulative patency rate was 69%. Hypertension was cured in 25% and improved in 39%. CONCLUSIONS: RAR tested for RAA treats hypertension and reduces the risk of rupture and distal embolisation.     

Bilateral renal artery stenosis/occlusion and renovascular hypertension. Correlation of angiographic findings with blood pressure response after surgery

In a previous study of unilateral renal artery stenosis the angiograms of patients with a favourable blood pressure response after surgery were found to be characterized by a reduction of renal arterial lumen greater than or equal to 90% and/or renal collateral circulation. Ancillary features were post-stenotic dilatation and a reduction of kidney length greater than or equal to 1 cm (Andersson; Andersson, Bergentz, Dymling, Ericsson, Hansson & H?kfelt). This report deals with 32 patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis who were followed 6--54 months after operation. The preoperative angiograms were analysed retrospectively without knowledge of the blood pressure response. In patients with bilateral fibromuscular dysplasia a good correlation was found between the above-mentioned criteria and a favourable blood pressure respone. In patients with bilateral arteriosclerotic stenosis no correlation was found. It was concluded that renal angiography constitutes a valuable predictive test in bilateral non-arteriosclerotic stenosis. In the presence of bilateral arteriosclerotic stenosis the selection of patients for surgery should be based on other parameters such as kidney function, age and general vascular status of the patient.     

Long-term results of renal artery reconstruction with autogenous artery in patients with renovascular hypertension

Renal artery reconstruction for the treatment of renovascular hypertension is preferably performed with an autologous graft when a graft is required. Although satisfactory results with vein grafts have been reported, stenosis and dilatation are not infrequent complications which have been observed only occasionally in arterial grafts. We have analysed our long-term results obtained with autogenous arterial grafts for renal artery reconstruction to determine the functional and anatomical results with regard to these complications. The data from 57 survivors operated on from 1959 through 1983 were analysed. All patients were hypertensive and the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 173/109 mmHg (mean number of 2.2 drugs). The renal artery stenosis was caused by arteriosclerosis and fibrodysplasia in 24 and 33 patients, respectively. In situ repair was performed in 30 patients (arterial bypass: 17 patients; splenorenal bypass: 13 patients). Extracorporeal repair of fibrodysplastic branch lesions was performed in 27 patients using branched hypogastric artery grafts (mean number of 2.4 branch anastomoses per kidney). Results were evaluated in the short (mean 8.3 months) and long term (mean 7.5 years) and the blood pressure response classified as either beneficial (cured/improved) or failed. Anatomical results were evaluated by angiography in the short-term in 87% of the patients and the long-term in 70%. A beneficial blood pressure response was obtained in 77% and 86% of patients in the short and long-term, respectively. The average blood pressure level after an interval of several years (long term) was 144/87 mmHg (mean number of 0.9 antihypertensive drugs). After in situ reconstruction, 2 and 1 anatomical failures were observed in the short and long-term, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Renal artery repair: consequence of operative failures.

OBJECTIVE: This report examines the blood pressure and renal function response in 20 consecutive patients after secondary renal revascularization following failed operative repair. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Most reports describing operative failure of renal artery (RA) repair emphasize the technical aspects of redo RA reconstruction and the immediate blood-pressure response to secondary operation. This report examines the eventual renal function and estimated survival after secondary intervention. METHODS: Primary methods of RA reconstruction, primary blood pressure and renal function responses, and causes of failed RA repair were defined for 20 patients requiring reoperation for recurrent hypertension or renal insufficiency. These parameters were compared with secondary procedures and eventual blood pressure and renal function response. The eventual outcome for these 20 patients was compared with 514 patients managed by primary renal revascularization during the same period. RESULTS: Failure of primary RA repair correlated with complex fibromuscular dysplasia requiring branch ex vivo reconstruction (p = 0.020). RA thrombosis frequently required nephrectomy (83%), whereas RA stenosis was successfully reconstructed (91 %; p = 0.001). Primary and secondary blood-pressure responses were equivalent (94% vs. 95% cured or improved); however, primary and eventual renal function responses differed significantly (p = 0.015), with seven patients dialysis-dependent on follow-up. Eventual dialysis dependence was associated with preoperative azotemia (p = 0.022), bilateral failure of primary RA repair (p = 0.007), and an increased risk of follow-up death (p = 0.002). Considering all 534 patients, failed RA repair demonstrated a significant and independent association with eventual dialysis dependence and decreased dialysis-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary rates of reoperation after surgical RA repair are low. In properly selected patients, beneficial blood-pressure response is reliably observed after both primary and secondary operative procedures. However, secondary procedures are associated with a significant and independent risk of eventual dialysis dependence.     

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery: Management and outcome

Renovascular hypertension may be caused by atherosclerotic disease or less commonly by fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) of the renal arteries. Fibromuscular dysplasia is the commonest cause of renal artery stenosis in the younger age group and affects women predominantly. A review of our clinical database identified all patients with renovascular hypertension. All relevant clinical, biochemical and radiological findings on those with FMD were noted. The outcome of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) or reconstructive surgery was evaluated. Eight out of 62 (13%) patients with hypertension secondary to renovascular disease had FMD (all female; bilateral in four; mean age at diagnosis 37.6 years; age range 12–70 years). The mean duration of hypertension before the diagnosis of FMD was 3.3 years (range 3 months–10 years). A renal artery bruit was detected in five, hypertensive retinopathy in three and one had mild renal insufficiency. Twelve PTRAs were attempted on 10 stenotic lesions in six women. This cured the hypertension in three, while the other three have required less antihypertensive therapy. Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty was complicated by a trivial renal artery dissection in one, and a small upper pole infarction in another. One patient required a repeat PTRA. The other two women presented before the availability of PTRA and had successful reconstructive surgery. Fibromuscular dysplasia was the cause of hypertension in eight out of 62 (13%) patients with renovascular hypertension. Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty has shown encouraging results with a low complication rate. If technically feasible, PTRA should be attempted on all patients with FMD of the renal artery.