How common is renal artery stenosis?
It depends on the population examined. Some degree of renal artery stenosis will be found incidentally in 19% to 42% of patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease such as coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease.
Fibromuscular dysplasia causing renal artery stenosis is seen in 3% to 5% of healthy patients being evaluated as potential living kidney donors.
In studies examining patients with mild to moderate hypertension, renal artery stenosis has been found in 0.6% to 3% of this population.
In patients with refractory hypertension, renal artery stenosis may be found in between 10% and 45% of patients.