Renal Arterial Doppler Study

Renal Arterial Doppler Study

Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) is when the arteries supplying blood to the kidneys narrow down. The renal arteries bring oxygen-rich blood to your kidneys, helping them eliminate waste and excess fluid from your body.

Symptoms

RAS-related signs and symptoms include:

• Persisting high blood pressure (hypertension) despite taking timely medicines to reduce hypertension.
• Decreased or abnormal kidney function.
• Fluid retention in the body.
• Edema (swelling) in your ankles and feet in particular.
• Increased protein levels in the urine.
• Treatment-resistant heart failure.
• Bruit sound in your blood vessels.

Visit your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Diagnosis:

Your doctor can start with the following steps to diagnose renal artery stenosis:

• A physical examination to detect bruit sounds that indicate the narrowing of your kidney artery using a stethoscope.
• A review of medical history.
• Urine and blood analysis to assess how your kidney is functioning.
• Blood and urine tests to assess the hormone levels that influence blood pressure.

Causes:

Causes of RAS include:

• A build-up of fatty substances and cholesterol.
• A less common cause- fibromuscular dysplasia.

Diagnosis

Imaging tests to diagnose renal artery stenosis include:

• Doppler Ultrasound: The test uses high-frequency sound waves to enable your doctor to view the arteries and kidneys, examine their function, and detect the presence and severity of blockages in the blood vessels.
• CT Scan: Here, an X-ray machine connected to a computer creates detailed cross-sectional images of the renal arteries. A dye injection can be added to illustrate the blood flow.
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA): MRA creates comprehensive 3D images of the renal arteries and kidneys through radio waves and strong magnetic fields. A dye injection in the arteries can illustrate the blood vessels.
• Renal Arteriography: Through this kind of X-ray procedure, your doctor is able to detect the blockage in the renal arteries and occasionally unblock the narrowed section with a balloon or stent. Before the procedure, your doctor injects a dye into the renal arteries through a catheter to clearly show the arteries and blood flow.

Treatment

Treatment for RAS can include lifestyle changes, medication, a procedure to restore blood flow to the kidneys, or a combination of treatments. These treatment methods include:

Lifestyle Changes:

• Maintain a proper/healthy weight
• Avoid salt
• Quit smoking
• Minimize stress
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Exercise regularly

Common Medications:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Diuretics, also known as water tablets
• Beta-blockers and alpha-beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers:

Your doctor can also prescribe aspirin and a cholesterol-lowering medicine in the case of atherosclerosis.

Procedures

A procedure to restore blood flow through the renal artery and increase blood flow to the kidney may be prescribed for some individuals.

• Renal Angioplasty and Stenting: Keeps the vessel walls open and allows better blood flow.
• Bypass Renal Artery Surgery: Physicians graft a temporary blood vessel to the renal artery during a bypass operation. This will establish a new path for blood to enter the kidneys in case the angioplasty is unsuccessful.

Preparing for treatment

You may visit your general doctor, or you may be referred to a nephrologist or cardiologist.

If you need an affordable treatment of renal artery stenosis, contact us at North Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center. We provide high-quality treatments for vein diseases.

FAQs

What can you do?

To prepare for treatment, you can:

• Write down all the symptoms
• List all the medications/supplements you take
• Share key medical information with your doctor
• Ask a family member or friend to accompany you
• Prepare a list of questions to ask

What to expect from your doctor?

Your doctor can ask the following questions:

• When did you begin to feel the signs symptoms?
• Are you a current or former smoker?
• Does something improve or worsen the symptoms?
• Have you measured your kidney function?
• Family history of high blood pressure or kidney failure