Renovascular hypertension treated by renal artery embolization.

Abstract

Renovascular hypertension is caused by narrowing of the arteries supplying the

kidneys. There are several methods to treat renal artery stenosis, such as

medications, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty, and atherosclerosis. A

boy presented to our hospital with severe hypertension. Computed tomography

angiogram revealed severe narrowing of the left renal artery and hypoplastic left

kidney. Total renal artery embolizaton was performed to make a complete occlusion

of the left renal artery. Follow-up renin and aldosterone levels were gradually

decreased. The main advantage of renal artery embolization is that it is

minimally invasive compared with extensive surgical procedures. Therefore, renal

artery embolization should be considered as an alternative to surgical

nephrectomy in pediatric patients with renovascular hypertension.