Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a major cause of renovascular hypertension and renal function due to ischemic atrophy of kidney. There are several methods to treat the RAS, including are surgery, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty, and medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal stent deployment in RAS.

From January 1995 to July 1996, 17 patients underwent renal stent implantation due to renal artery stenosis (11 male, 6 female). the mean age was 49 years old, one patient had both renal artery stenosis and total lesions were 18. The causes of renal artery stenosis were atherosclerosis in 12, fibromuscular dysplasia in 2, Takayasu's disease in 2, and autoimmune disease (Bechet's) in one case. Renal artery stenting was performed via femoral artery in 12 lesions and brachial artery in 6 lesions. Follow up was performed by renogram, renal angiogram, and clinical examination.

The degree of renal artery stenosis was 83% (70-95%). the lesion sites were 12 ostial and 6 non-ostial lesions. The used renal stents were Palmaz-biliary stent in 17 lesions and Micro-2 stent in one lesions. All stents were implanted successfully and there was no residual stenosis in all patients except one case showed 20% residual stenosis due to huge renal artery size. The transstenotic pressure gradients after renal artery stenting was decreased markedly from 74mmHg to 2mmHg. There no serious complications such as a death, emergency surgery, or nephrectomy. There were two minor complications which were one case of pyelonephritis and one case of inguinal hematoma. After stenting, blood pressure was decreased partially in 13 patients and completely in 2 cases.

Renal artery stenting appears to be safe and feasible and the alternative treatment modality to surgery for renal artery stenosis.