Who should be screened for renal artery stenosis?
A search for renal artery stenosis may be undertaken in patients with progressive kidney failure of unknown cause, or in individuals with difficult to treat high blood pressure (hypertension that does not respond well to medications). The diagnosis of renal artery stenosis may be considered when any or all of the following are present: • High blood pressure that is difficult to control with the usual medications. • An abdominal bruit (a rubbing sound heard with a stethoscope placed on the abdomen suggesting a narrowed vessel) along with high blood pressure. • Moderately to severely elevated blood pressure, with an onset before age 30 or after age 50. • Moderately to severely elevated blood pressure in a person with known atherosclerosis elsewhere in the body (history of heart attack or stroke). • Easily controlled high blood pressure that becomes difficult to control. • Worsening of kidney function after initiation of certain blood pressure medications [angiotensin converting enzyme in
