RENAL-ARTERY STENOSIS - CHANGES IN INTRARENAL DOPPLER WAVE-FORM FOLLOWING PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY

Purpose: To examine the extent of the changes in the intrarenal spectr al waveform patterns after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and whether there is a correlation with the angiographic and clinical results. Methods: In 44 patients with 68 PTAs we analyzed the intrare nal spectral waveform regarding the existence of a tardus-parvus patte rn before and after PTA. Results: In 51 of the 60 cases with a tardus- parvus pattern prior to PTA, a complete normalization of the spectral waveform was noted. There was no correlation between the Doppler resul t after PTA and the angiographic and clinical result. In contrast ther e was a significant correlation between the Doppler result before PTA and the clinical outcome: patients with a normal intrarenal spectral w aveform before PTA showed no improvement in their arterial hypertensio n. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a patient with a normal spect ral waveform analysis does not response to PTA. However, there is stil l an unpredictable clinical response even if a patient has an abnormal intrarenal spectral waveform prior to PTA and a complete normalizatio n after PTA.