Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renal transplant arterial stenosis for relief of hypertension.

Seven hypertensive patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for relief of arterial stenosis complicating renal allotransplantation. Four had end-to-end anastomosis of the donor renal artery to the recipient hypogastric artery; all PTA's were successful. Three patients had end-to-side anastomosis of the donor renal artery to the recipient external iliac artery; 2/3 PTA's were successful. Prior to PTA, all patients were using several antihypertension medications. Following successful PTA, the mean blood pressure fell from 190 +/- 10/120 +/- 5 to 132 +/- 16/86 +/- 9 mm Hg (p less than 0.01) and remained at that level for up to six months (average follow-up 2.85 months) with decreased or no antihypertension medications. Since surgical correction of arterial stenosis is difficult and may endanger the transplant kidney, PTA should be attempted first.