Stent-supported angioplasty of renal artery stenoses preserves renal function and improves blood pressure control in a broader spectrum of patients than previously thought.

No abstract

Background-Percutaneous stent-supported angioplasty is a treatment option for atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis. Improvement of renal function by such intervention, however, is controversial and thought to be limited to specific subsets, such as nondiabetic patients and bilateral stenoses. In this prospective study, we investigated predictors for improvement of renal function and blood pressure after renal artery stent placement. Methods and Results-The study included 215 consecutive patients with ostial renal artery stenosis of Ն70% diameter stenosis undergoing stent-supported angioplasty. The primary end point was decrease in serum creatinine concentration at 1 year; the secondary end point, decrease in average mean arterial blood pressure assessed by 24-hour monitoring.

Predictors of restenosis after stent angioplasty of ostial renal artery stenosis (RAS) and long-term technical success, particularly the influence of gold coating, are unknown. During a 4-year period (1996-2000), we treated 156 consecutive patients with 219 ostial RAS of > or = 70% diameter stenosis. Gold-coated stents were used in 29% of RAS (n = 64); the vessel diameter ranged from 3 to 9 mm. The restenosis rate was 11.4% at 12 months, 12.2% for gold-coated stents and 11.1% for noncoated stents. Restenosis rates were 16% for < or = 4 mm, 17% for 5 mm, 10% for 6 mm, and 0% for > or = 7 mm (P < or = 0.05). In a backward stepwise logistic regression analysis including gold coating, vessel diameter, gender, diabetes, smoking status, as well as lesion diameter stenosis before and after stenting, vessel diameter was found the only independent predictor of restenosis (odds ratio = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.35-0.93; P = 0.02, for an increase in vessel diameter of 1 mm). Gold coating was not a significant predictor (odds ratio = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.39-3.03; P = 0.87). Seven major (4.5%) complications occurred. There were no procedural fatalities. The restenosis rate after stent angioplasty of ostial RAS is influenced by the vessel diameter but not by gold coating.

In parallel with the use of more flexible catheters and premounted stents of lower profile, the complication rate of renal angioplasty/stenting of atherosclerotic RAS has been reduced significantly during a 5-year period.