3) Renal Artery Stenosis (Narrowing)
Is a less common indication of stent placement than CAD. Kidneys are vital organs that regulate blood pressure by filtering blood, producing urine, and maintaining the quantity of salt and moisture in the body. Kidneys are created to monitor blood pressure according to their input. In the case of renal artery stenosis, renal input is reduced making the kidney excrete a hormone called renin which will elevate blood pressure. This cycle will eventually lead to renovascular hypertension, a kind of elevated blood pressure. Renovascular hypertension strains the heart and can potentially progress to renal failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
