Renal artery stenosis

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Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Kidney blood supply

Renal artery occlusion; Stenosis - renal artery; Occlusion - renal artery; Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD)

There are usually no symptoms.

The blood pressure may be high, and there may be a history of high blood pressure that doesn't respond to medication or is difficult to control. A bruit may be heard on examination with a stethoscope (auscultation) over the kidney.

• A radionuclide renogram may show decreased blood flow. The value of radionuclide scanning is increased if the test is done twice: once after a dose of captopril and once without the captopril.
• An MRI, kidney CT scan, or kidney ultrasound may indicate a decreased size of the kidney, and/or a decrease in blood flow through the artery because the artery has become narrow.
• Renal arteriography shows the exact location of the stenosed (blocked) area.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Urine specific gravity
• Urine concentration test
• Renal perfusion scintiscan

Review Date: 12/09/2005
Reviewed By: Colm C. Magee, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Renal Transplant, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.