Reliability of echo-Doppler and helical computed tomography angiography for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of t wo non invasive methods for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis, compare d with renal angiography, Retrospective analysis of 113 hypertensive patien ts who underwent renal angiography permitted us to evaluate the results of echo-Doppler (n = 53) and helical computed tomography angiography (n = 50). Regarding echo-Doppler, sensitivity and specificity were 0.75 and 0.86 resp ectively (40 true positives/53 stenoses, and negative result in 38/44 norma l arteries). Regarding helical CT angiography, these Values were 0.94 and 0 .95 respectively (positive result in 45/48 stenoses, and 41 true negatives/ 43 normal arteries). These results suggest that echo-Doppler and helical CT angiography are two reliable methods for the diagnosis of renal artery ste nosis. Thus, renal angiography could be reserved for patients who may requi re percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty.