Depression and anxiety in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of depressive and anxiety disorders in patients remitted for endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis (RAS), and whether symptoms of depression and anxiety can be reduced after the treatment of RAS with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). Methods Patients: Selected for renal angiography with pressure measurement in the renal arteries due to suspected RAS were invited to participate in the study. 37 patients agreed to answer a questionnaire. Eighteen patients also agreed to a clinical psychiatric examination including the International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I. 6.0) to be diagnosed according to the DSM-IV. Results: Twenty-one of the 37 patients completing the questionnaire were found to have a pressure gradient of ≥ 10 mmHg at angiography, indicating significant stenosis. Ten of the 18 examined patients met the criteria for current DSM-IV anxiety diagnosis and two patients had a current depression. Three of the 18 examined patients had previously made a suicide attempt. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that patients with suspected RAS have a high psychiatric comorbidity, as 56% of the patients undergoing psychiatric examination met the DSM-IV criteria for a current anxiety disorder.

Fibromuscular dysplasia with recurrence after “long-term” following percutaneous transcatheter renal angioplasty: two case reports with a review of 26 patients

Background Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) often causes renal artery stenosis with renovascular hypertension. Recent clinical outcomes encourage percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) to treat FMD; however, the necessary follow-up period remains unclear. Moreover, previous studies have not revealed the difference in the period until recurrence between two major types of FMD—multifocal and focal. Case presentation We describe two patients with multifocal FMD who developed hypertension during their teenage years and had recurrence of FMD > 10 years after PTRA. We further examined the types of FMD and age of onset in 26 patients who underwent PTRA. The period until recurrence of multifocal FMD was longer than that of focal FMD. Moreover, patients with early-onset multifocal FMD are likely to have a delayed recurrence after PTRA compared to other types. Conclusions Our report suggests that patients with multifocal FMD, especially those with onset at an early age, may need long-term follow-up for at least ≥ 10 years.

Use of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective For patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS), the role of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the benefits of best medical therapy (BMT) plus PTRA and BMT alone in treating ARAS. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, and searched for all randomized, controlled trials that reported patients with ARAS. The effectiveness and safety in the BMT plus PTRA and BMT alone groups were estimated, taking into account hypertension, stroke, renal events, cardiac events, and mortality. Results Nine randomized, controlled trials involving 2309 patients were included. In the BMT plus PTRA group, the incidence of refractory hypertension was significantly lower compared with that in the BMT alone group (odds ratio 0.09; 95% confidence interval 0.01, 0.70). However, there were no significant differences in the rates of stroke, renal events, cardiac events, cardiac mortality, and all-cause mortality between the two groups. Conclusions PTRA plus BMT improves blood pressure in patients with ARAS, but there is insufficient evidence for this therapy in improving stroke, renal events, cardiac events, and cardiac and all-cause mortality.

Endovascular management of renal artery stenosis in renal transplantation

INTRODUCTION: Transplant renal artery stenosis is a recognized complication of kidney transplantation associated with allograft dysfunction and even graft loss. It is a commonly missed but potentially treatable complication that may present from months to years after transplant surgery. Its prompt diagnosis and adequate therapeutic management are essential to avoid renal function loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data from two 72-year-old patients transplanted in 2017 at our institution. Both with arterial hypertension, chronic ischemic heart disease and end-stage renal disease due to nephroangiosclerosis and membranous glomerulonephritis, respectively; presented allograft dysfunction in the immediate postoperative period. With this finding and the evidence of peak systolic velocity of >200 cm/s in the transplant renal artery we suspected transplant renal artery stenosis, confirmed by angiography and CT scan. An endovascular management with stent placement was performed. RESULTS: Both patients were managed by percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and stent placement with good morphological outcomes. After the procedure both patients presented a progressive renal function improvement, being discharged after 8 and 11 days, respectively. Since then, both patients have remained with stable renal function, presenting a glomerular filtration rate of 67 mL/min/1.73m2 and 60 mL/min/1.73m2 12 months after the surgery. No complications have been noticed after 14 months. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and stent placement is an effective and safe technique. Nevertheless, high experience is mandatory to reduce the number of complications and optimize the results of this technique.