Renal Artery Stenosis
Renal artery stenosis (RAS) means the arteries that bring blood to your kidneys become narrowed. This can reduce blood flow and cause high blood pressure. The most common cause is a buildup of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis), which usually affects older adults. Another cause is fibromuscular dysplasia, which is not related to cholesterol or inflammation and is more common in younger women.​
Symptoms to watch for:
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High blood pressure that is hard to control or starts at a young age
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Headaches
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Flank or abdominal pain
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A whooshing sound (bruit) in the abdomen, heard by your doctor
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Dizziness
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Most people with FMD or renal artery stenosis have high blood pressure as their main symptom. Kidney problems are less common but can happen if blood flow is severely reduced.
How common are these conditions?
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Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is found in up to 40% of adults with high blood pressure, but only a small number have severe narrowing that causes symptoms.
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FMD is less common, found in about 3–4% of people in some studies, and is often discovered by accident. Among people with FMD, about 75% have kidney artery involvement.
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FMD may cause high blood pressure in up to 7.5% of women under 50 with hypertension.
What Patient should know?
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Most people with these conditions live normal lives with proper treatment.
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Regular follow-up is important to monitor blood pressure and kidney function.
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FMD can affect other arteries, so your doctor may recommend imaging of other parts of your body.
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Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications like stroke, aneurysm rupture, or kidney damage.
Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the most common type and typically occurs in older adults with cardiovascular risk factors. Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a non-atherosclerotic and less common cause of RAS. It primarily affects middle-aged women and is often underdiagnosed. Both conditions commonly involve the renal arteries.
