Renovascular Hypertension

by Alia Bucciarelli, MS

Definition

Renovascular hypertension is a form of high blood pressure.

The Kidney and its Main Blood Vessels

Causes

The kidneys control blood pressure. If blood cannot get to the kidneys, certain hormones get out of balance. The imbalance makes the blood pressure higher.

Blood flow can be disrupted by:

Atherosclerosis —Plaque builds up and blocks blood flow.
Fibromuscular dysplasia—Muscle and tissue thicken on the artery wall and harden into rings. The rings block blood flow.
Renal artery stenosis —Kidney’s arteries become narrow.
Structural problems—Some may be present at birth.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Risk Factors

Risk is higher if you:

Are over 60 years old
Have high blood pressure
Have blocked blood vessels
Have diabetes
Smoke
Have high cholesterol
Or someone in your family has kidney or heart problems

Symptoms

Most people don't have symptoms. If they appear, you may have:

High blood pressure—can be hard to control
Pain in your back or side
Blood in your urine
Breathing problems from fluid buildup in the lungs
Weight gain
Fluid buildup in your legs, ankles, or feet

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You may also have:

A physical exam
Blood pressure readings
Blood and urine tests to look for certain proteins or other markers
Imaging tests:

Treatment

Care involves lowering blood pressure. This will help lower stress on the kidneys. Care may involve:

Quitting smoking, getting routine exercise, or eating better foods
Medicines to lower blood pressure
Surgery such as:
- Percutaneous angioplasty—using a balloon or stent to open the artery
- Bypass—rebuilding a blood vessel by going around the block
- Remove one or both kidneys— nephrectomy

Prevention

To help keep your kidneys healthy:

Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking.
Stay in a healthy weight range.
If you have a health problem that harms your kidneys, follow your care plan.

RESOURCES:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https//www.niddk.nih.gov

Society for Vascular Surgery
https://vascular.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The Kidney Foundation of Canada
https://www.kidney.ca

References:

Renal artery stenosis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated September 8, 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018.

Renovascular conditions. Society for Vascular Surgery website. Available at https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/renovascular-conditions. Accessed June 12, 2018.

Renovascular disease. Patient website. Available at https://patient.info/doctor/renovascular-disease. Updated March 11, 2016. Accessed June 1, 2016.

Renovascular hypertension. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/hypertension/renovascular-hypertension. Updated February 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018.

Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD
Last Updated: 06/12/2018

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