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==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==
Renal artery stenosis means the narrowing of both renal arteries leading to the on=bstruction of blood flow and resulting in the release of renin and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This leads to the increase in production of aldosterone promoting increased retention of sodium and an increase in peripheral vascular resistance leading to increase renovascular hypertension that is also called secondary hypertension.
 
Renal artery stenosis means the narrowing of both renal arteries leading to the obstruction of blood flow and resulting in the stimulation of RAAS. The blood flow to the kidneys is generally greater than perfusion to any other organ and the GFR mainly depends on the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure. In patients with RAS, the reduced blood flow to the kidneys leads to the formation of collateral blood vessels and increases secretion of renin by juxtaglomerular apparatus and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I and then with the help of enzyme ACE that is an angiotensin-converting enzyme it further gets converted to angiotensin II. This angiotensin II directly causes vasoconstriction and also increases aldosterone which results in the retention of sodium and water thus leads to the development of renovascular hypertension that is also called secondary hypertension.
Prolonged hypoperfusion to the kidneys resulting in chronic stimulation and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. This prolonged ischemia further leads to renal insufficiency and inturn progressive renal atrophy.
Prolonged hypoperfusion to the kidneys resulting in chronic stimulation and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. This prolonged ischemia further leads to renal insufficiency and inturn progressive renal atrophy.


The blood flow to the kidneys is generally greater than perfusion to any other organ and the GFR mainly depends on the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure. In patients with renal artery stenosis, the chronic ischemia produced by the obstruction of renal blood flow leads to adaptive changes in the kidney which include the formation of collateral blood vessels and secretion of renin by juxtaglomerular apparatus. The renin enzyme has an important role in maintaining homeostasis in that it converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. Angiotensin I has then converted to angiotensin II with the help of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the lungs. Angiotensin II is responsible for vasoconstriction and release of aldosterone which causes sodium and water retention, thus resulting in secondary hypertension or renovascular hypertension.[1][6][1]
 
Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Insufficiency
Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Insufficiency


Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is autoregulated by angiotensin II and other modulators between the afferent and efferent arteries. The maintenance of GFR fails when renal perfusion pressure falls below 70 mmHg to -85 mmHg. Therefore significant functional impairment of autoregulation, leading to a decrease in the GFR, is only likely to be observed until arterial luminal narrowing exceeds 50%. Studies demonstrate that a moderate reduction in renal perfusion pressure (up to 40%) and renal blood flow (mean 30%) cause a reduction in glomerular filtration, however, tissue oxygenation within the kidney cortex and medulla can adapt without the development of severe hypoxia. As an inference patients at an early stage can be treated with medical therapy without progressive loss of function or irreversible fibrosis in many cases, sometimes for many years.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is autoregulated with the help of angiotensin II and numerous other modulators. The GFR gets affected when the renal perfusion drops below 70mmhg. the apparent change in GFR is observed once the arterial lumen narrows by more than 50%. Numerous studies reported that GFR is reduced when altogether there is a reduction in renal perfusion pressure by more than 40% and a reduction in mean renal blood flow by 30%. However, even after this the kidneys cortex and medulla can adapt without the development of severe hypoxia. So early disease can be managed with the medical approach and that can prevent the development of progressive function loss and fibrosis.But in cases with more significant stenosis around 70-80%, there is the development of apparent cortical hypoxia and this hypoxia further leads to the rarefaction of microvessels and ultimately leads to the development of interstitial fibrosis. Therefore the loss of renal function and progressive renal disease. Eventually, it becomes irreversible and restoration of blood flow to the kidneys will not help in getting back the kidney functions.
 
It is reported that more advanced stenosis corresponding to 70% to 80% of vascular occlusion leads to demonstrable cortical hypoxia, and it is proposed that this hypoxia produce rarefaction of microvessels, as well as activation of inflammatory and oxidative pathways that cause interstitial fibrosis. [7]Therefore the loss of renal function in renovascular disease in addition to being a usually reversible consequence of antihypertensive therapy can reflect a progressive narrowing of the renal arteries and/or progressive intrinsic renal disease. Eventually, the long-standing parenchymal injury becomes an irreversible process. At this point, restoring renal blood flow provides no recovery of renal function or clinical benefit.


[[Image:Renal artery stenosis diagram 001.gif|200px|Illustration of renal artery stenosis]]
[[Image:Renal artery stenosis diagram 001.gif|200px|Illustration of renal artery stenosis]]

Revision as of 01:10, 21 November 2020

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shivam Singla, M.D.[2]

Overview

The reduction in renal blood flow secondary to renal artery stenosis stimulates renin release from the juxtaglomerular apparatus through activation of the tubuloglomerular feedback, baroreceptor reflex, and the sympathetic nervous system. Elevated angiotensin II activities in turn cause elevation of the arterial pressure and other effects including aldosterone secretion, sodium retention, and left ventricular hypertrophy and remodeling.[1]

Pathophysiology

Renal artery stenosis means the narrowing of both renal arteries leading to the obstruction of blood flow and resulting in the stimulation of RAAS. The blood flow to the kidneys is generally greater than perfusion to any other organ and the GFR mainly depends on the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure. In patients with RAS, the reduced blood flow to the kidneys leads to the formation of collateral blood vessels and increases secretion of renin by juxtaglomerular apparatus and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I and then with the help of enzyme ACE that is an angiotensin-converting enzyme it further gets converted to angiotensin II. This angiotensin II directly causes vasoconstriction and also increases aldosterone which results in the retention of sodium and water thus leads to the development of renovascular hypertension that is also called secondary hypertension. Prolonged hypoperfusion to the kidneys resulting in chronic stimulation and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. This prolonged ischemia further leads to renal insufficiency and inturn progressive renal atrophy.


Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is autoregulated with the help of angiotensin II and numerous other modulators. The GFR gets affected when the renal perfusion drops below 70mmhg. the apparent change in GFR is observed once the arterial lumen narrows by more than 50%. Numerous studies reported that GFR is reduced when altogether there is a reduction in renal perfusion pressure by more than 40% and a reduction in mean renal blood flow by 30%. However, even after this the kidneys cortex and medulla can adapt without the development of severe hypoxia. So early disease can be managed with the medical approach and that can prevent the development of progressive function loss and fibrosis.But in cases with more significant stenosis around 70-80%, there is the development of apparent cortical hypoxia and this hypoxia further leads to the rarefaction of microvessels and ultimately leads to the development of interstitial fibrosis. Therefore the loss of renal function and progressive renal disease. Eventually, it becomes irreversible and restoration of blood flow to the kidneys will not help in getting back the kidney functions.

Illustration of renal artery stenosis

References

  1. Garovic, VD.; Textor, SC. (2005). "Renovascular hypertension and ischemic nephropathy". Circulation. 112 (9): 1362–74. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.492348. PMID 16129817. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)