Collateral circulation in stenosis or occlusion of the renal artery

The abdominal angiograms of 381 patients were critically reexamined for the existence of collateral circulation in cases of renal artery stenosis or occlusion. Typical renal artery stenosis was found in 39 patients; among these, 17 had a collateral circulation, which was extrarenal in 15 and intrarenal in two. Collateral circulation involving the lumbar arteries was most common. In two patients a collateral circulation was established via the inferior mesenteric artery.