Renal Artery Stenosis
Description
The arteries that carry blood from the heart to the kidneys constrict, a condition known as renal artery stenosis (RAS) or renal artery disease. Your right and left kidneys each have two renal arteries that carry blood to them. These arteries may either acquire stenosis, or both.
Hypertension (high blood pressure), chronic kidney disease, or kidney failure can all result from renal artery stenosis.
Symptoms
Poor kidney function may cause the following symptoms:
- Confusion or issues with concentration.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Edema (swelling due to fluid buildup).
- Fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Appetite loss.
- Leg cramps.
- Vomiting and nauseousness
- Breathlessness (dyspnea)
- Modifications to the skin, such as dry, itchy, or darker skin.
- Unaccounted-for weight reduction.
- Urination frequency fluctuating
Until it is severe, renal artery stenosis frequently exhibits no symptoms at all.
Book an appointment with your General Practice doctor or Nephrologist who might refer you to a Cardiologist if you experience any of these symptoms.
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View MoreCauses
Your kidneys and other regions of your body are more likely to have restricted arteries as a result of certain risk factors:
- A family history of early heart disease, ageing, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and usage of other tobacco products.
The primary causes of RAS include:
- Atherosclerosis or buildup on the kidney (renal) arteries: As plaque enlarges, it can harden, restrict blood flow, result in kidney scarring, and finally narrow the artery.
- Fibromuscular dysplasia: a condition in which the arterial wall's muscle fails to develop normally. Often, this starts in childhood.
Complications can result from fibromuscular dysplasia and narrowed kidney arteries, which can also impact other arteries in your body.
Diagnostics
- Physical examination: Enterologists will examine your limbs for edema and pay attention to your breathing. To hear the flow of blood via your arteries, they might place a stethoscope next to your kidneys. Blood frequently creates a whooshing sound when it passes through constricted arteries.
- Renal function tests: Elevated concentrations of protein, creatinine, nitrogen, and other waste products in bodily fluids point to ineffective kidney function.
- Imaging scans: including duplex ultrasound, a computed tomographic angiography (CTA), or a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA).
Unaccounted for elevated blood pressure is one of the most typical signs of RAS.
Treatment
Several drugs are often used to treat high blood pressure brought on by renal artery stenosis, including:
Diuretics
Beta- and Alpha-Beta-Blockers
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
Calcium Channel Blockers
A healthy lifestyle that limits salt intake, eats wholesome foods, and engages in regular physical activity can help regulate blood pressure if it is moderately or severely raised.
If renal artery stenosis is caused by atherosclerosis, your doctor might also advise aspirin and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The ideal drugs for you will depend on your unique situation.
