The Renin-Sodium Profile and the Captopril Test as Tools for the Diagnosis of Renovascular Hypertension

Past estimates of the prevalence of renovascular hypertension, defined as high blood pressure due to renal artery stenosis, have been in the vicinity of 5% hypertensive patients [1–6]. However, current speculative estimates have begun edging closer to the figure of 20%, proposed in 1964 by DeBakey and associates [7]. Behind this change are recent advances in screening and diagnostic technologies, to be discussed below, that have broadened and confirmed the suspicion of renovascular hypertension in many patients who, earlier, would have been considered to have incurable, but treatable, essential hypertension. A large proportion of renal artery stenoses can now be cured or improved, either by surgery or by the newer, relatively noninvasive method of balloon angioplasty.