Transplant renal artery stenosis: urgent and judicious to avoid disaster; A narrative review

Abstract

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) remains a dreaded complication of renal transplant surgery with potentially devastating sequelae. TRAS occurring early in the posttransplant period is mainly due to technical faults related to the graft implantation process. Late TRAS, in contrast, is more the result of either progressive atherosclerotic disease in the recipient vasculature or immunological, infective, and drug toxicity-related intimal injury. The clinical presentation may range from asymptomatic incidentally detected lesions to frank stenosis causing refractory hypertension or graft dysfunction. Accurate diagnosis with prompt intervention in the clinically significant lesions is the hallmark of successful management in TRAS, thereby averting the possible risk of renal artery thrombosis and graft loss.