What is the relationship between arteriosclerosis and kidneys? How to treat it?

Hypertensive patients should check for kidney problems if they experience the following conditions: medical history of more than 10 years, and blood pressure is not well controlled; blood pressure is greater than 200/120 mmHg; So what is renal artery stenosis?

1. What is renal artery stenosis?

After the patient came to the hospital for a systematic examination, it was found that he had severe stenosis of the right renal artery.

Renal artery stenosis

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) refers to the stenosis of the renal artery or its branches. The cause of the disease is mostly atherosclerosis, but it can also be caused by fibromuscular dysplasia or Takayasu arteritis.

Renal artery stenosis results in insufficient blood perfusion to the corresponding kidney supplied by the artery, which can cause hypertension and renal parenchymal atrophy. If not treated promptly, it will eventually lead to renal failure.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of renal artery stenosis, accounting for 70% to 80%.

2. What is the relationship between arteriosclerosis and kidneys?

Normal arteries are solid and elastic with smooth inner walls, like a brand new rubber tube, while arteries with atherosclerotic lesions become thickened, stiff, and calcified, commonly known as arteriosclerosis. Eventually, the arteries become narrow or even completely blocked, and blood cannot flow through. As shown below.

Many people may think that arteriosclerosis is only the hardening of the coronary arteries of the heart, which may cause coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, etc., or that cerebral arteriosclerosis causes cerebral infarction, hemiplegia, etc., but they do not know that arteriosclerosis is a disease that affects arteries throughout the body. It can not only affect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels, but also the visceral and limb arteries, including the renal arteries to be introduced today. (The arrow in the picture below points to the severely narrowed renal artery)

3. What are the symptoms of renal artery stenosis?

(1) Most cases of renal artery stenosis are asymptomatic.

(2) The main symptom of renal artery stenosis is the occurrence of high blood pressure that cannot be controlled by medication, namely renal hypertension.

(3) If bilateral renal artery stenosis is severe or if certain antihypertensive drugs are started, renal function may deteriorate and some patients may even develop sudden pulmonary edema.

Among patients who did not undergo surgical intervention, 11% of those with renal artery stenosis greater than 60% developed renal artery occlusion within 2 years. These patients often face the dangerous situation of losing the function of one kidney or even renal failure.

4. Treatment methods

(1) Drug treatment: Drug treatment is the first choice. When drug treatment cannot control hypertension or progressive deterioration of renal function in patients with renal artery stenosis, interventional treatment is chosen.

(2) Interventional treatment Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or simultaneous placement of a renal artery stent is a mature treatment method for renal artery ostial lesions.

Interventional treatment:

Interventional treatment Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or simultaneous placement of a renal artery stent is a mature treatment for renal artery ostial lesions.

(3)Surgical treatment. Surgical treatments include bypass surgery, autologous kidney transplantation and other surgeries.

The patient chose interventional minimally invasive surgery. See the picture below.

Health Notice:

Many people may think that arteriosclerosis is only the hardening of the coronary arteries of the heart, which may cause coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, etc., or that cerebral arteriosclerosis causes cerebral infarction, hemiplegia, etc., but they do not know that arteriosclerosis is a disease that affects arteries throughout the body. It can not only affect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels, but also the visceral and limb arteries, including the renal arteries. ‍‍