PURPOSE: To perform a meta-analysis of renal arterial stent placement in
comparison with renal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in
patients with renal arterial stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies
dealing with renal arterial stent placement (14 articles; 678 patients)
and renal PTA (10 articles; 644 patients) published up to August 1998 were
selected. A random-effects model was used to pool the data. RESULTS: Renal
arterial stent placement proved highly successful, with an initial
adequate performance in 98% and major complications in 11%. The overall
cure rate for hypertension was 20%, whereas hypertension was improved in
49%. Renal function improved in 30% and stabilized in 38% of patients. The
restenosis rate at follow-up of 6-29 months was 17%. Stent placement had a
higher technical success rate and a lower restenosis rate than did renal
PTA (98% vs 77% and 17% vs 26%, respectively; P <.001). The complication
rate was not different between the two treatments. The cure rate for
hypertension was higher and the improvement rate for renal function was
lower after stent placement than after renal PTA (20% vs 10% and 30% vs
38%, respectively; P <.001). CONCLUSION: Renal arterial stent placement is
technically superior and clinically comparable to renal PTA alone