[Significance of the contralateral kidney for a successful decrease of blood pressure following renovascular surgery in patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis. Angiographic and pharmacodynamic studies in renovascular and essential hypertension (author's transl)].

This study was carried out to improve the diagnostic procedure and preoperative prognosis in patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension. The vascular sensitivity of the non-stenosed kidney was tested by the influence on renal hemodynamics (133xenon washout technique) of dihydralazine applicated intrarenally and was correlated with selective renal arteriograms. Comparative studies were done in patients with essential hypertension including those with and without nephrosclerotic lesions. The results demonstrate that the pharmacodynamic effect of the vasodilator used in this study is obtained only in kidneys without arteriosclerotic lesions of the small vessels. A postoperative normalization of blood pressure in patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis depends on a patent renal bypass and a normal vascular response of the contralateral kidney.