[Usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography in the screening of renal artery stenosis in hypertensive patients: proposition of a diagnostic algorithm: a study of 245 patients].

Usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography in the screening of renal artery stenosis in hypertensive patients: proposition of a diagnostic algorithm: a study on 245 patients. Different non-invasive techniques, including Duplex, spiral angioscan, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are available for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis (RAS). The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performances of MRA and the MRA-Duplex couple in the diagnosis of RAS. Between September 2003 and January 2005, 245 patients benefited from a renal MRA for the assessment of hypertension etiology. The MRA-Duplex couple was performed in 228 patients. Renal arteriography was performed in case of abnormalities observed with MRA and/or Duplex (n=41). The sensitivity and specificity of MRA were respectively at 100% and 23%. The sensitivity was notably higher in the right renal artery (100 vs. 73%). The sensitivity and specificity of Duplex were respectively at 71 and 85%. The concordance between the two exams was disappointing (kappa at 0.39 for the right side and 0.62 for the left side), leading to the interest of the MRA-Duplex association for excluding the presence of RAS (sensitivity and negative predictive value=100%). However, using the MRA-Duplex couple led to a high number of false positive cases, due to MRA, leading to 11 angiograms out of 41 exams, without any significant RAS. In case of suspicion of RAS, the MRA-Duplex couple permits to exclude definitely the diagnosis of RAS. In case of discordance between the 2 exams, it would be useful to require a spiral angioscan and/or redo a Duplex exam using contrast agents, prior to angiography with a therapeutic goal. These management modalities might be useful to avoid the number of normal angiograms, with an inherent risk of complications and cost excess.