Two cases of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis treated by percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and intravascular stent placement, leading to improvement of hypertension and renal function

We describe here two cases of renal artery stenosis(RAS) caused by atherosclerosis. Both patients were treated by percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty(PTRA) and stent placement, leading to the improvement of renal function as well as hypertension. The two patients were a 75-year-old male(case 1) and a 56-year-old male(case 2), who both showed mild proteinuria, renal dysfunction, and refractory hypertension. Case 1 showed a unilateral ostial stenosis in the left main renal artery. On the other hand, case 2 showed an ostial stenosis in the left renal artery and a widespread narrowing in the right renal artery. After evaluation of the lesions by renal Doppler sonography, renogram, magnetic resonance signal intensity, and magnetic resonance angiography(MRA), each stenosis was treated by balloon angioplasty and intravascular stent placement without any major complications. Thereafter, in addition to hypertension, renal function also ameliorated significantly, and has remained stable for more than 12 months. Non-invasive screening tests and appropriate therapy for renovascular lesion should be considered in the case of elderly patients with refractory hypertension and progressive renal dysfunction, since ischemic nephropathy is increasing as a common cause of end stage renal disease and is showing favorable outcomes of revascularization.