Effect of Renal Artery Stenting on Renal Function and Size in Patients with Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Renal artery stenting is widely performed, but little is known about its effectiveness in preserving renal function and size in patients with renovascular disease and chronic renal insufficiency. We studied the effect of renal artery stenting on renal function and size in patients with obstructive renovascular disease and chronic renal insufficiency. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stent deployment was performed in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine >1.5 mg. dL(-1)) and global renovascular obstruction (bilateral renal artery stenosis or unilateral stenosis in the presence of a solitary or single functional kidney). The effect of renal artery stenting on renal function was assessed by comparing the slopes of the regression lines derived from the reciprocal of serum creatinine versus time plotted before and after stent deployment. Renal size was assessed by serial ultrasound of pole-to-pole kidney length. Stenting was successful in all 61 vessels in 33 patients. Twenty-five patients had complete follow-up (mean 20+/-11 months). Before stent deployment, all patients exhibited a negative slope, indicating progressive renal insufficiency. After stent deployment, the slopes were positive in 18 and less negative in 7 patients. Thus, the mean slope increased from -0.0079 to 0.0043 dL. mg(-1). mo(-1) (P:<0.001). Ultrasonography on 41 kidneys revealed preservation of size, with the kidney length measuring 10.4+/-1.4 cm at baseline and 10.4+/-1.1 cm at last follow-up (P:=NS). Patient survival at 20+/-11 months was 90%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic renal insufficiency and global obstructive atherosclerotic renovascular disease, renal artery stenting improves or stabilizes renal function and preserves kidney size.