Accessory renal artery stenosis and hypertension: are these correlated? Evaluation using multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography.
BACKGROUND
Renal artery stenosis may produce hypertension, and this condition is referred to as renovascular hypertension (RVH).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, by using multidetector-row spiral computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA), whether a relationship between accessory renal artery stenosis and hypertension may be hypothesized.


METHODS
214 patients (142 males, 72 females; mean age 66 years) who had previously undergone an MDCTA to study the abdominal vasculature were retrospectively studied. Patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) were excluded from this analysis. The patients were studied by means of a four-detector-row CT, and scans were obtained after intravenous bolus administration of 110-140 ml of a nonionic contrast material with a 3-6 ml/s flow rate. As a second step, by means of statistical analysis, hypertension data were compared with findings of accessory artery stenosis. Two radiologists first independently reviewed the MDCTA images and then, in case of disagreement, in consensus. Interobserver agreement was calculated for all measurements.


RESULTS
The overall number of detected accessory renal arteries was 74 in 56 of the 214 patients. Accessory renal artery stenosis was detected in 21 of the 56 patients. There was a difference in the prevalence of hypertension between patients with (n = 21) and without (n = 35) accessory renal artery stenosis (P = 0.0187). Interobserver agreement was good (kappa value 0.733).


CONCLUSIONS
Any statistical association between the presence of accessory renal artery stenosis and hypertension could not be disclosed. However, accessory renal artery stenosis, detected by MDCTA, is an important pathological sign that the radiologist has to assess in the light of its possible association with hypertension.
Saba
L
L
Department of Imaging Science and Department of Vascular Surgery, Policlinico Universitario, Cagliari, Italy. lucasaba@tiscali.it
Sanfilippo
R
R
Montisci
R
R
Conti
M
M
Mallarini
G
G
D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide