Renal-Artery Stenosis

Primary diseases of the renal arteries often involve the large renal arteries, whereas secondary diseases are frequently characterized by small-vessel and intrarenal vascular disease. In this article, we will concentrate on the two most common primary diseases of the renal arteries — atherosclerotic renal-artery stenosis and fibromuscular dysplasia — and their association with two common clinical syndromes, hypertension and ischemic nephropathy. The relations among renal-artery stenosis, hypertension, and renal excretory dysfunction are complex (Figure 1). Renal-artery stenosis may occur alone (isolated anatomical renal-artery stenosis) or in association with hypertension, renal insufficiency (ischemic nephropathy), or both.Prevalence and Natural HistoryFibromuscular . . .