Percutaneous transluminal dilatation: a new treatment of renovascular hypertension?

Percutaneous transluminal dilatation of a left sided renal artery stenosis was performed in a 61 year old patient with hypertension. Biochemical and hemodynamic activity of the renal artery stenosis was demonstrated by measurement of renal venous renin-activity and determination of renal plasma flow and of pre- and poststenotic blood pressure values. Shortly after the dilatation procedure hypertension disappeared and renal plasma flow increased. The described procedure might be an alternative method to renal vascular surgery.