What is the recommended workup and management for a patient with suspected renal artery stenosis, uncontrolled hypertension, and impaired renal function on dialysis?

Workup for Renal Artery Stenosis

Begin with duplex ultrasound (DUS) as your first-line imaging test, measuring peak systolic velocity (PSV), renal-aortic ratio (RAR), resistance index, and kidney size. 1, 2

Initial Diagnostic Imaging Algorithm

• Perform DUS first in all patients with suspected renal artery stenosis, looking for PSV ≥200 cm/s (indicating >50% stenosis) or RAR >3.5 (indicating ≥60% stenosis). 1, 2

• If DUS suggests stenosis or provides inconclusive results, proceed immediately to CT angiography (CTA) or MR angiography (MRA) for definitive anatomic assessment. 1, 2

• For patients already on dialysis with impaired renal function, CTA may be preferred over MRA to avoid gadolinium-associated risks, though contrast load must be considered. 2

Determining Hemodynamic Significance

Once anatomic stenosis is identified, assess whether it is hemodynamically significant:

• A stenosis ≥70% by visual estimation or intravascular ultrasound is considered hemodynamically significant. 3, 2

• A stenosis of 50-69% is significant if accompanied by post-stenotic dilatation and/or significant trans-stenotic pressure gradient (resting mean gradient >10 mmHg, systolic hyperemic gradient >20 mmHg, or renal Pd/Pa ≤0.9). 1, 3, 2

• If non-invasive imaging is equivocal, catheter-based angiography with pressure measurements may be needed to confirm hemodynamic significance. 1

Assessing Kidney Viability

This step is critical because non-viable kidneys will not benefit from revascularization, regardless of stenosis severity. 1, 2

Signs of Kidney Viability:

• Kidney size >8 cm 1, 2
• Distinct cortex >0.5 cm with preserved corticomedullary differentiation 1, 2
• Albumin-creatinine ratio <20 mg/mmol 1, 2
• Renal resistance index <0.8 1, 2

Signs of Non-Viability (revascularization contraindicated):

• Kidney size <7 cm 1
• Loss of corticomedullary differentiation 1
• Albumin-creatinine ratio >30 mg/mmol 1
• Renal resistance index >0.8 1

Identifying High-Risk Clinical Features

Revascularization should only be considered when high-risk features are present alongside anatomically significant stenosis and viable kidneys. 1, 3, 2

High-risk features include:

• Flash pulmonary edema (recurrent episodes despite medical therapy) 1, 3, 2
• Resistant hypertension (uncontrolled on ≥3 antihypertensive medications at maximal doses, including a diuretic) 1, 3, 4
• Rapidly declining renal function or progressive chronic kidney disease 1, 3, 2
• Bilateral renal artery stenosis >70% or stenosis in a solitary functioning kidney 1, 3

Management Approach

For Patients on Dialysis:

In patients already on dialysis, the primary goal shifts from preserving renal function to controlling blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular complications. 4

• Optimize medical therapy first with renin-angiotensin system blocker (if tolerated), high-intensity statin, low-dose aspirin, and additional antihypertensive agents targeting BP <130/80 mmHg. 2, 4

• Revascularization should be considered (Class IIa) only if the patient has viable kidneys, hemodynamically significant stenosis (>70%), and high-risk features such as flash pulmonary edema or truly resistant hypertension despite optimal medical therapy. 1, 3

• For dialysis-dependent patients, the benefit of revascularization is controversial, but may be considered if there is potential for dialysis independence with bilateral disease or solitary kidney with signs of viability. 3

Medical Therapy Requirements:

Medical therapy is the Class I recommendation and must be established before any consideration of revascularization. 3, 2, 4

• Use three appropriate blood pressure medications at maximally tolerated doses, with one being a diuretic. 3
• Include a renin-angiotensin system blocker (ACE inhibitor or ARB), which confers long-term mortality benefit even in patients with identified renal artery stenosis. 1, 4
• Add high-intensity statin and low-dose aspirin. 2, 4

When to Consider Revascularization:

Revascularization should be considered (Class IIa) only when BOTH clinical AND anatomic criteria are met: 3, 2

Clinical criteria:

• Optimal medical therapy has been established and failed 3, 2
• Presence of high-risk features (flash pulmonary edema, resistant hypertension, progressive renal failure) 1, 3, 2

Anatomic criteria:

• Unilateral stenosis >70% OR bilateral stenosis >70% OR stenosis in solitary kidney 1, 3
• Signs of kidney viability present 1, 2

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not proceed to revascularization without first optimizing medical therapy – this is the most common error and violates Class I recommendations. 3, 2, 4

• Do not assume all stenoses require intervention – routine revascularization for atherosclerotic RAS without high-risk features is Class III (not recommended). 1

• Do not overlook kidney viability assessment – revascularizing a non-viable kidney (size <7 cm, resistance index >0.8, significant proteinuria) will not improve outcomes. 1, 2, 4

• A rise in serum creatinine during ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy is often transient and related to hemodynamic changes when BP falls; this does not automatically indicate need for revascularization. 1, 4

• For patients on dialysis, carefully weigh whether revascularization will meaningfully impact mortality or quality of life, as the primary renal preservation benefit may be limited. 3

Post-Intervention Surveillance

If revascularization is performed, follow-up with renal DUS is recommended: 1, 3, 2

• Within 30 days 3, 2
• At 6 months 3, 2
• At 12 months 1, 3, 2
• Annually thereafter 1, 3, 2

Re-intervention may be considered for in-stent restenosis ≥60% detected by DUS, recurrent symptoms (diastolic BP >90 mmHg on >3 antihypertensive drugs), or >20% increase in serum creatinine. 1, 2