Drug-eluting stents in renal artery stenosis

Because of higher acute and long-term success rates compared with balloon angioplasty alone, percutaneous stent implantation has become an accepted therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Restenosis rates after successful renal stent placement vary from 6 up to 40%, depending on the definition of restenosis, the diameter of the treated vessel segment and comorbidities. The safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of renal-artery stenosis is poorly defined. The recently published GREAT study is the only prospective study, comparing bare-metal and sirolimus-coated low profile stent systems in renal artery stenosis, showing a relative risk reduction of angiographic binary in-stent restenosis by 50%. This is an opinion paper on indications, current treatment options and restenosis rates following renal artery stenting and the potential use of drug-eluting stents for this indication. (orig.)