Outcomes of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis managed without revascularozation

To determine how often patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) managed without revascularization progress to accelerated hypertension and/or renal failure. We examined the outcomes of 68 patients (mean +/- SEM age, 71.8 +/- 0.9 years) with high-grade (>70%) RAS identified between 1989 and 1993 who were treated without renal revascularization for at least 6 months after angiography. The time to last follow-up averaged 38.9 +/- 2.8 months. Other vascular beds were affected in 66 of the 68 patients. End points were revascularization, nephrectomy, dialysis, or death. The mean +/- SEM serum creatinine level rose from 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/- 0.2 mg/dL (P