Source
Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount-Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Calcifications in arteries are thought to represent atherosclerosis.
METHODS:
Consecutive abdominal tomographic scans performed during a 4-month period were evaluated and assessed for renal artery calcifications (RAC). Scans that showed calcifications were evaluated for renal artery narrowing and for various characteristics of the atherosclerotic plaque.
RESULTS:
Of 350 consecutive examinees, 43% were men, 40% had hypertension and 38% had hypercholesterolaemia. The age was 61 +/- 13 years. Aortic calcifications were found in 54% and RAC in 102 (29%), of whom 53 had bilateral calcifications. Subjects with RAC were older, 72 +/- 6 versus 55 +/- 12 years. Adjusted odds ratios of RAC were 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.6) for male gender, 2.4 (1.2-4.8) for hypertension and 2.9 (1.4-5.8) for hypercholesterolaemia, whereas family history of hypertension was protective with 0.5 (0.3-0.9). All patients with calcified renal arteries had aortic calcifications, versus 35% of those without RAC. A significant correlation was found between the severity of calcifications and the degree of renal artery narrowing (r = 0.7), and also between the presence of bilateral calcifications and a high-grade narrowing.
CONCLUSIONS:
RAC strongly relates to atherosclerosis. Calcifications and artery narrowing may have a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Bilateral calcifications suggest atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.