Renal Vascular Disease

Renal vascular disease refers to various problems that affect the arteries and veins of the kidneys. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the narrowing of the lining of the main artery that supplies the kidney. When your kidney's blood flow is normal, your kidneys filter waste from your body into your urine. Your kidneys also help control your blood pressure by sensing the blood pressure and secreting a hormone, called renin, into your bloodstream.

When your kidney's blood flow is blocked, your kidneys cannot effectively remove waste from your body. A blockage or narrowing of the arteries can also affect the amount of renin secreted by your kidneys, which helps regulate your blood pressure if it is too high or too low. Renal vascular disease is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Uncontrolled renal vascular disease can cause damage to the tissues of the kidneys, kidney failure, and/or high blood pressure.

Renal Vascular Disease Symptoms

Renal vascular disease usually goes undetected and is hard to detect during a normal checkup. Hypertension is the most common symptom. Renovascular conditions develop slowly and worsen over time. If you have high blood pressure, the first sign that you may have renal artery stenosis is that your high blood pressure may become worse or the medications that you take to control your high blood pressure may not be effective. Other signs that you have renal vascular disease include:

Pain in the sides of your abdomen, legs, or thighs
Blood in your urine
Protein in your urine
A enlarged kidney that your physician can feel
Fever, nausea, or vomiting
High blood pressure
Sudden, severe swelling in your leg
Difficulty breathing

Renal Vascular Disease Tests

Renal vascular disease is commonly detected through the following tests:

Ultrasound
Angiography
CT Scan
MRA
Doppler Ultrasound

Renal Vascular Disease Treatments

Medication (e.g., antihypertensive drugs) may be used to control hypertension (high blood pressure). If your physician diagnoses renal artery stenosis, he or she may prescribe blood pressure medications. These medications may include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
Angioplasty and stenting may be used to improve the circulation of blood flow to the kidney and prevent the release of excess renin, which can help to decrease blood pressure.
Surgery to bypass the narrowing may be performed.

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