Meta-Analysis Finds Renal Artery Stenting Improves Clinical Outcomes

May 29, 2014—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) announced that a new meta-analysis found that renal artery stenting significantly reduces the risk of serious health problems, including death and stroke, when compared to medical therapy alone. The study, which was led by Alexandre Benjo, MD, was presented at the SCAI 2014 scientific sessions in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Benjo is from the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The society observed that there has long been a debate on whether it is beneficial to place a stent in an obstructed artery supplying blood to the kidney, usually in an effort to rein in uncontrolled high blood pressure or delay renal failure.

As summarized by SCAI, the investigators combined data from six randomized controlled trials representing a total of 2,031 patients. All patients had a renal artery narrowed by plaque buildup and were treated with the best possible medication regimen; 1,006 patients also underwent renal artery stenting in addition to medical therapy.

The investigators found that patients treated with stenting had a 10% lower combined risk of death, stroke, worsening kidney function, and heart failure. They also noted that the need for blood pressure medication was significantly lower in the stenting group. The researchers noted that the results of this meta-analysis may differ from randomized, controlled studies due to its larger sample size, reported SCAI.