Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis

A recent report has challenged the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS). From January 1983 to December 1990, 24 PTA procedures were performed for TRAS in 18 patients. The stenoses were anastomotic in two cases, in the main renal artery in 14, and segmental in eight. After PTA, the residual stenosis was less than 20% in 14 (58%), 20%–50% in four (17%), and greater than 50% in six (25%). The mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 106 mm Hg 1 day prior to PTA to 82 mm Hg 1 day after PTA. Long-term follow-up mean diastolic blood pressure (at 2–32 months) was 93 mm Hg (P < .01). Eleven of the 18 patients (63%) had a 10% or greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure on long-term follow-up. Major complications occurred in two patients; one groin hematoma required surgical evacuation, and one polar infarct led to hypertension that was difficult to control. No surgical revisions of the transplant renal artery were necessary. The authors’ data indicate that PTA should remain the treatment of choice for nonanastomotic TRAS.