The main job of our kidneys is to filter out waste from our blood and return clean blood back to our body. Most of the time our kidneys perform their job, clean our blood, and keep our bodily fluids and electrolytes on balance. Unfortunately, it is possible for the arteries of the kidneys to become blocked. If this occurs, the filtering system can be severely damaged and limits blood flow to and from the kidneys. If not treated, it can cause high blood pressure, and/or kidney failure, and other complications. Let us provide a patient’s guide to renal vascular disease.
What Are the Types of Renal Vascular Disease?
Renal Artery Stenosis
Known as RAS, this is a narrowing of an artery to the kidneys. It can cause high blood pressure and kidney failure.
Risk factors include: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight, and family history. Men between the ages of 50 and 70 are most susceptible.
Symptoms include:
- High blood pressure that does not improve after 3 medications
- Increased urea in the blood
- Unexplained kidney failure
Renal Artery Thrombosis
Renal artery thrombosis is a blood clot in an artery which may block blood to the kidney causing kidney failure.
This condition might go undetected if the clot grows slowly or is incomplete.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Blood in urine
- Nausea/vomiting
- Sudden decrease in function of kidneys
- High blood pressure
Renal Vein Thrombosis
Renal vein thrombosis is a clot in a vein leading to the kidneys.
Sudden onset symptoms include:
- Fever
- Flank pain and spasms
- Soreness at the kidney between backbone and ribs
- Decreased kidney function
- Blood in urine
Renal Artery Aneurysm
Renal artery aneurysm is a weak or bulging area in the walls of an artery to the kidneys. It is a rare condition and often there are no symptoms.
Symptoms can be:
- Blood in urine
- A tear in the aneurysm can cause flank pain
- High blood pressure
Atheroembolic Renal Disease
Atheroembolic renal disease occurs when plaque from a larger artery travels and blocks smaller renal arteries. It is very common in older adults.
Symptoms include:
- Red or purple lesions on skin
- Kidney failure
- Belly pain
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Muscle aches
What Causes Renal Vascular Disease?
In general, the causes of renal vascular disease can include any of the following:
- An inflammatory disease
- An infection
- Atherosclerosis
- A tumor
- Surgery
- Birth defect
- Aneurysm
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications
Diagnosis and Treatments at Surgical Alliance of Middle Tennessee in Clarksville, Hendersonville & Springfield TN
Our board-certified surgeons will do a thorough evaluation and utilize tests including:
- An angiogram or X-Ray of blood vessels
- Ultrasound to check blood flow
- MRA which is a combination of an MRI with contrast
- A type of nuclear radiology procedure called a Renography
Treatments will depend on a number of factors starting with the type of disease you have.
Other considerations include your age, severity of disease, your overall health, how well you will be able to tolerate certain procedures, medications, and therapies.
Your opinion or preference will be taken into consideration.
Worst Case Complications
If renal vascular disease is left untreated, the following complications can occur:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Loss of vision
- Heart disease
Contact Surgical Alliance of Middle Tennessee at (615) 205-9559 with any symptoms of renal vascular disease and receive a thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment options.