Renal Artery Stenosis

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the anatomic narrowing of one or more of the arteries to the kidney(s), most commonly caused by atherosclerosis. This chapter will review the causes of renal artery stenosis (RAS), and the pathophysiological changes and clinical manifestations that may occur due to RAS. Additionally, the noninvasive imaging tests used to demonstrate the presence of RAS, how to determine the hemodynamic significance of RAS, and the role percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and renal artery stent placement play in the treatment of RAS will be discussed.