Endovascular Treatment versus Medical Therapy for Hypertensive Patients with Renal Artery Stenosis: An Updated Systematic Review

Endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis in Germany: a retrospective analysis of the DEGIR registry 2018-2021

PURPOSE

 To provide an overview of endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis (RAS) using the data of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für interventionelle Radiologie (DeGIR) quality management system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 A retrospective analysis was performed. Pre-, peri- and postprocedural data, technical success rates, complication rates, and clinical success rates at dismissal were examined.

RESULTS

 Between 2018 and 2021, 2134 angiography examinations of the renal arteries were performed: diagnostic angiography in 70 patients (3 %), balloon angioplasty in 795 (37 %), stent implantation in 1166 (55 %) and miscellaneous procedures in 103 (5 %). The lesion length was less than or equal to 5 mm in 1837 patients (87 %), between 5 and 10 mm in 197 (9 %), and between 10 and 20 mm in 62 (3 %). The degree of stenosis was less than 50 % in 156 patients (7 %), greater than 50 % in 239 (11 %), and greater than 70 % in 1472 (70 %). Occlusion was treated in 235 patients (11 %). Symptoms at discharge resolved in 600 patients (29 %), improved in 1012 (49 %), were unchanged in 77 (4 %), and worsened in 5 (0.2 %). Complications were reported in 51 patients (2.5 %) and the mortality rate was 0.15 %.

CONCLUSION

 A substantial number of patients with RAS and occlusions were treated by radiologists in Germany, with high technical success rates and low complication rates. The indication should be determined carefully as the current European guidelines for the treatment of RAS suggest that only carefully selected groups of patients will benefit from recanalizing treatment.

KEY POINTS

  · Carefully selected patient groups may benefit from endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis.. · Analysis of the DEGIR quality management database shows that treatment of renal artery stenosis was performed by radiologists in Germany with high technical success rates and low complication rates.. · Recanalization even led to symptom improvement in a large proportion of patients with occlusions..

Prevalence of visceral artery involvement in patients with peripheral artery disease found on run-off MRA

Background

In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), run-off MR-angiography (MRA) is a commonly performed diagnostic test to obtain high-resolution images for evaluation of the arterial system from the aorta through the distal run-off vessels. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of visceral artery involvement (VAI) in patients with PAD and leg symptoms examined with run-off MRA.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 145 patients (median age 68 years, range 27–91) who underwent MRA due to known or suspected PAD at our institution between 2012 and 2018. MRA examinations were re-evaluated for visceral artery stenosis. Patient dossiers were reviewed to determine cardiovascular risk factors, kidney function and Fontaine stage of PAD.

Results

Involvement of at least one visceral artery with ≥ 50% diameter stenosis was found in 72 (50%) patients. There were no differences in age, gender, MRA indication, Fontaine stage, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cardiovascular risk factors or vascular comorbidities between patients with and without VAI. Renal artery (RA) involvement with ≥ 50% diameter stenosis was observed in 28 (20%) of patients. Patients with involvement of the RA were more likely to suffer from hypertension (79 vs. 54%, p = 0.019) and reduced renal function (glomerular filtration rate 70 vs. 88 mL/min/1.73m², p = 0.014).

Conclusion

Visceral artery stenosis can be seen in half of patients with known or suspected PAD and leg symptoms on run-off MRA. Investigating for RA stenosis in patients with PAD and hypertension and/or impaired renal function may have high diagnostic yield.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12880-021-00615-2.

Guideline-Driven Management of Hypertension: An Evidence-Based Update

Several important findings bearing on the prevention, detection, and management of hypertension have been reported since publication of the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Guideline. This review summarizes and places in context the results of relevant observational studies, randomized clinical trials, and meta-analyses published between January 2018 and March 2021. Topics covered include blood pressure measurement, patient evaluation for secondary hypertension, cardiovascular disease risk assessment and blood pressure threshold for drug therapy, lifestyle and pharmacological management, treatment target blood pressure goal, management of hypertension in older adults, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, resistant hypertension, and optimization of care using patient, provider, and health system approaches. Presenting new information in each of these areas has the potential to increase hypertension awareness, treatment, and control which remain essential for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the future.

Long-term outcomes and determinants of stenosis recurrence after renal artery angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

Restenosis (RS) following percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis (RAS) might have an unfavourable impact on renal function and blood pressure (BP) outcomes.

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of RS in patients treated with PTA for RAS, and the relationship between BP and renal function (RF) changes with RS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analysed freedom from RS in 210 patients (age 64.6 ±12.8 years; range: 20-85), who underwent 248 successful stent-assisted PTAs in RAS. The change in levels of serum creatinine (SCC), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), systolic/diastolic BPs (SBP/DBP) were analysed prior to PTA, at 6-, 12-month, and final follow-up visits, and whenever RS was diagnosed.

RESULTS

RS was identified in 30 (14.3%) patients, and there were 36 (14.5%) lesions. The Kaplan-Meier RS-free survival curves in fibromuscular dysplasia, atherosclerosis, and vasculitis at 1 and 7 years were: 100% and 100%; 95.6 and 83.9%; and 71.4 and 39.7%, respectively. Patients with RS, as compared to RS-free patients, presented with less pronounced changes in respect with: SBP (1.4 ±17.6 vs. -15.8 ±25.8 mm Hg; p = 0.01), DBP (2.64 ±10.1 vs. -6.5 ±14.1 mm Hg; p = 0.002), SCC (22.4 ±55.2 vs. -3.6 ±43.9 µmol/l; p = 0.002), and eGFR (-1.85 ±18 vs. -5.34 ±19.5 mm Hg; p = 0.045). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of RS occurred: lack of BP decrease (HR = 4.19, 95% CI: 1.67-10.3; p = 0.002), eGFR increase < 0.17 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.08-7.91; p = 0.033), stent diameter ≤ 5 mm (HR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.09-6.97; p = 0.031), and vasculitis (HR = 5.61, 95% CI: 1.83-17.2; p = 0.003). RS was treated in 24 patients with RS recurrence in 20%.

CONCLUSIONS

The RS rate differs depending on RAS aetiology. Lack of SBP/DBP and eGFR improvement, vasculitis, and stent diameter are associated with RS risk. Repeated PTA is effective, but recurrent RS occurs in 20% of cases.