Renovascular Hypertension
What is Renovascular Hypertension?
The renal arteries originate in your heart and are responsible for carrying blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to your kidneys. When these arteries are blocked it can affect the kidneys.
Causes:
- Advancing age can cause progression in atherosclerosis due to plaque which can cause the arteries to narrow and stiffen
Symptoms:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Risk Factors:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Fibromuscular dysplasia (inflammation of the lining of the blood vessel wall)
Diagnosis:
- History, Physical Exam
- Duplex ultrasound- Renal artery duplex
- Magnetic resonance angiography
- Computed tomographic angiography
Treatment
Life Style Changes:
Maintain regular exercise, reduce saturated fats and cholesterol in your diet, quitting smoking, and regular check ups with your primary physician to control any high blood pressure or complications from diabetes.
Renal Bypass Surgery:
Only in cases of severe blockage. It is a complex surgery with additional risks.
Stenting:
A tiny mesh-metal tube, called a stent, is inserted into the catheter. The stent is guided to the narrowed area of your renal artery and placed to provide support, like a scaffold. The stent remains permanently to keep the artery open.
Angioplasty:
Angioplasty, a long, thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a small puncture over an artery in your arm or groin. Through the catheter an inflatable balloon is guided to the blocked area. There, the balloon is inflated and deflated several times. The balloon flattens the plaque against the artery walls, widening the vessel. Then the balloon instrument is removed from the catheter.