RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS. EVALUATION WITH CONVENTIONAL ANGIOGRAPHY VERSUS GADOLINIUM ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY

Abstract

Renal artery stenosis is the most curable cause of hypertensive patients. Atherosclerosis is, by far, a major contributing factor in the development of the renal artery disease.

The aim of this work is to compare the role of Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography with that of conventional angiography in cases of renal artery stenosis. The advantages and disadvantages of each methods and how to improve advantages and decrease disadvantages.

Conventional angiography is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of arterial complications, and in some cases can be coupled with treatment of the lesion by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. However, it requires arterial puncture, arterially administered nephrotoxic iodinecontrast medium and is a source of such complications as hematoma, arterial dissection, or even embolism. Therefore, each procedure must be considered carefully.

Doppler ultrasound has been proved to be a simple test and is now routinely used to detect and evaluate renal artery complication. The sensitivity of Doppler ultrasound is good but it has a lower specificity and remains operator dependent. Because of the marked advancement in therapy of renal artery stenosis as regarding the introduction of renal artery stent placement and other methods. There is increased needs for accurate diagnosis.