Overview

Renovascular disease is a condition that affects the blood vessels that bring blood to the kidneys. Atherosclerosis or other vascular problems often cause one or both renal arteries to become narrowed. When blood flow to the kidneys is reduced, they can't filter waste products or regulate blood pressure. In the long run, this could lead to uncontrolled high blood pressure and worsening kidney damage. Renovascular disease is more likely to happen in older people, especially those who have risk factors for heart disease. Early diagnosis is important because getting treatment quickly can help keep blood pressure under control and protect kidney function.

Symptoms
A lot of people don't have any early signs of the disease except for high blood pressure that is hard to control. Some people may suddenly experience higher blood pressure, swelling in their legs, or blood test results showing their kidneys are not working as well as they should. Fluid buildup or sudden kidney failure can make it hard to breathe in severe cases. Symptoms are often more about the problems that arise than the narrowing itself.

Causes
Atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the renal arteries, is the most common cause. Fibromuscular dysplasia, a condition that causes abnormal growth of arterial walls, can occur in younger people. Some things that can raise your risk are smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, being overweight, and being old. A family history of vascular disease also raises the risk.

Diagnosis
To figure out what's wrong, doctors check blood pressure and do blood tests to see how well the kidneys are working. Doppler ultrasound, CT angiography, and MR angiography are all imaging tests that can show narrowing of the renal arteries. Specialized angiography might be used to confirm.

Treatment
The goal of treatment is to keep blood pressure under control and prevent further kidney damage. Most of the time, medicines are the first thing to try. In some cases, procedures such as angioplasty with stent placement may improve blood flow. It's important to make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and keeping your cholesterol under control. It is important to follow up regularly.

The severity of arterial narrowing and how well treatment works will determine the outlook. Early treatment helps keep blood pressure under control and protects kidney function. Renovascular disease that isn't treated can cause long-term damage to the kidneys and problems with the heart and blood vessels.