FOLLOW-UP OF PRIMARY PALMAZ-SCHATZ STENT PLACEMENT FOR ATHEROSCLEROTIC RENAL-ARTERY STENOSIS

A Palmaz-Schatz(TM) stent was successfully placed in 92 stenotic renal arteries (76 patients) for (1) hypertension in 62 (82%), and/or (2) c hronic renal failure (serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 mg /dl) and preservation of renal function in 39 (51%). Patients were fol lowed to assess clinical and angiographic 6-month outcome. Angiography , performed in 45 of 62 eligible patients (73%) and in 56 of 74 treate d arteries (76%), showed restenosis occurring in 14 renal arteries (25 %). Serum creatinine improved Or remained stable in 78% of patients. I n patients with chronic renal failure, improvement or stability was ob served in 55%. Blood pressure recordings significantly decreased for t he entire cohort (systolic: 168 +/- 25 to 156 +/- 22 mm Hg, p < 0.0001 ; diastolic: 87 +/- 11 to 81 +/- 11 mm Hg, p < 0.005), and for hyperte nsive patients with normal creatinine (systolic: 179 +/- 20 to 155 +/- 23 mm Hg, p < 0.0001; diastolic: 92 +/- 9 to 83 +/- 12 mm Hg, p < 0.0 02). These follow-up data of a prospective, nonrandomized, observation al study showed that stent recanalization of atherosclerotic renal art ery stenoses was beneficial with regard to renal function and blood pr essure response, and had a restenosis incidence of 25%.