A case report of a woman with bilateral renal artery stenosis and a history of pulmonary oedema

Abstract

The prevalence of renovascular hypertension is assessed as 1-4% among hypertensive patients and increases with age. Two thirds of cases of renal artery stenosis are caused by atherosclerosis, which often affects other arteries. Renal artery stenosis may be suspected on the basis of such clinical features as severe, drug-resistant hypertension and the development of renal insufficiency during ACE inhibitors treatment. Recently it was stressed that bilateral renal artery stenosis may facilitate the occurrence of recurrent pulmonary oedema episodes. Lately new methods of visualising renal arteries, such as Doppler sonography, spiral computed tomography and magnetic resonance were introduced. The use of intravascular stents broadened the possibilities of nosurgical renal artery stenosis correction. The case report of a 76-year old woman with bilateral renal artery stenosis, and a history of pulmonary oedema that was treated with an intravascular stent is presented.