Comparison of medical and surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension.

Controversy continues to surround the management of patients with hypertension secondary to renovascular disease. Older studies quote high mortality rates and graft thrombose rates with operative management and low rates of favorable blood pressure responses. These pessimistic reports have led to use of operation only when drug therapy does not provide adequate blood pressure control. This report summarizes these studies and provides more current information regarding changes in renal function during drug therapy and results of surgery and its potential role in both management of hypertension and control of progressive loss of renal function.