Palmaz-Schatz stent revascularization of renal artery stenosis was successfully performed on 1,058 patients who were entered into a voluntary, multicenter registry. The revascularization procedures were performed because of poorly controlled hypertension, preservation of renal function, and congestive heart failure. All 1,058 patients were eligible for > or =6-month clinical follow-up, which focused on subsequent renal function, blood pressure, number of antihypertensive medications, and survival. At 4-year follow-up, systolic and diastolic blood pressures had significantly decreased (168 +/- 27 mm Hg to 147 +/- 21 mm Hg, and 84 +/- 15 to 78 +/- 12 mm Hg; P < 0.05) and the blood pressure appeared to be more facilely controlled as indicated by the concomitant decrease in number of antihypertensive medications (2.4 +/- 1.1 to 2.0 +/- 1.0; P < 0.05). Serum creatinine had also significantly decreased (1.7 +/- 1.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.8 mg/dl; P < 0.05). The cumulative probability of survival was 74% +/- 3% at 4 years. Survival was good for patients with normal (85% +/- 3%) baseline renal function, fair (78% +/- 5%) with mildly impaired renal function, and poor (49% +/- 5%) with severely impaired renal function (baseline creatinine > or =2.0 mg/dl). The combination of impaired renal function and bilateral disease adversely effected survival (unilateral 55% +/- 6% vs. bilateral 36% +/- 11%; P < 0.05). Renal artery stent revascularization, in the presence of normal or mildly impaired renal function, had a beneficial effect on blood pressure control and on renal function (through stabilization or improvement). Survival was adversely effected by renal dysfunction despite adequate revascularization. Perhaps early diagnosis of renal artery stenosis and adequate revascularization prior to the onset of renal dysfunction could beneficially impact blood pressure control, preserve or prevent deterioration of renal function, and improve patient survival.
Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.