Endovascular revascularization of renal artery stenosis in the solitary functioning kidney

The treatment of renal artery stenosis by angioplasty and stenting is an effective and accepted alternative to surgery for the treatment of renovascular hypertension and preservation of renal function. We report the technical and clinical outcomes of renal artery stenting in patients with a solitary functioning kidney and renal artery stenosis. From October 1993 to November 1999, 30 stents were placed in the renal arteries of 27 patients (mean age 72 ± 8 years) with a solitary functioning kidney and azotemia. The mean diameter renal artery stenosis was 86 ± 14%. The mean preprocedure serum creatinine (Cr) level was 3.0 ± 1.5 mg/dL (range 1.5-7.5 mg/dL), arterial blood pressure was 171 ± 29/85 ± 13 mmHg, and the number of antihypertensive drugs was 2.9 ± 1.1. Indications for stenting were suboptimal balloon dilation (n = 16), intimal dissection (n = 6), and restenosis following angioplasty (n = 5). Atherosclerotic ostial lesions were present in 25 (93%) of 27 renal arteries. This represents the largest series of renal artery stenting in patients with a solitary functioning kidney, and demonstrates this treatment modality to be a relatively safe alternative to conventional surgery in this high-risk patient group. Most (74%) of the patients in this series had improved or stabilized renal function. Further efforts to define preprocedural indicators of success are necessary to identify the patients who may benefit from revascularization of their solitary kidney.