Renovascular Hypertension
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure.Renovascular hypertension is a form of what is called secondary hypertension, which is hypertension caused by another condition in the body. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common reason for health care office visits in the United States. In this case, the high blood pressure is caused by the hardening and narrowing of the renal artery, which carries blood to the kidneys. Narrowing of the renal artery is called renal artery stenosis. The vast majority of patients with hypertension have "primary" hypertension. That is, there is no underlying medical reason for hypertension. The two most common causes of secondary hypertension are chronic kidney disease and medication side effect. It occurs in less than 5% of all people with hypertension. Symptoms usually begin before age 30 or after age 50, depending on the cause of the damage to the kidney blood vesse. Drugs that can cause hypertension include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ,sympathomimetics,oral contraceptives, anabolic steroids, illicit substances and over the counter dietary supplements.
One important cause of secondary hypertension is renal artery stenosis(RAS). Stenosis means narrowing, or partial blockage of the blood vessel that carries blood to the kidney. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the most common cause of RAS. This typically occurs in older people. Renal artery stenosisis often found in patients with vascular disease in other areas for example: coronary, carotid, abdominal aorta and peripheral arteries. Renal artery stenosismay also occur in younger (commonly female) patients, due to abnormal development of the artery wall known as fibromuscular dysplasia. RAS is associated with several serious medical conditions, including increasing high blood pressure (a serious predictor of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and premature death), kidney failure and recurrent heart failure.
Causes of Renovascular Hypertension
Common causes of Renovascular Hypertension
- Renal artery stenosis.
- Trauma or kidney transplantation.
- Takayasu arteritis and Kawasaki disease.
- Plaque deposits.
Symptoms of Renovascular Hypertension
Common symptoms of Renovascular Hypertension
- Kidney failure.
- Tiredness.
- Confusion.
- Vision changes.
- Crushing.
- Chest pain.
- Nosebleed.
- Nausea.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Vomiting.
- Stroke.
- Blindness.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Congestive heart failure.
- Confusion.
- Anxiety.
- ]excessive perspiration.
- Reddened skin
Treatment of Renovascular Hypertension
Common Treatment of Renovascular Hypertension
- Medications that may be used in an attempt to control blood pressure include diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and alpha blockers.
- Patients with fibromuscular dysplasia, a vascular disease that causes narrowing of the renal arteries, may benefit from percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PRTA) using a stent.This cures hypertension in a good percentage of patients, and makes it easier to control in the rest.
- Most nephrologists will attempt to a surgical bypass of the renal arteries (revascularization) to restore blood flow in patients who have severe, Refractory hypertension, episodes of flash pulmonary edema or rapid progression of renal failure.
- Intravascular stents placed during angioplasty may be helpful in the prevention of restenosis and the management of RVHT.
- You can reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, which causes renal artery stenosis, by eating a diet low in fats and salts, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting plenty of exercise.
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