Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a narrowing of one or both of the blood vessels that carry blood to the kidneys. Over time, RAS can worsen, leading to high blood pressure and kidney damage. Blood pressure medications and angioplasty are the 2 best treatments for RAS, and some people may need both. Currently, it is not known if one treatment is better than the other. Medicine lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, while angioplasty opens the blocked artery. Patients are more likely to control their blood pressure if they undergo angioplasty and continue taking blood pressure medicine. However, there is no difference in how well kidneys work between those who have angioplasty and those who only take blood pressure pills.

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