Comparative accuracy of renal duplex sonographic parameters in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis: paired and unpaired analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test performance of duplex sonographic parameters in screening for hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis, which occurs in approximately 5% of persons with hypertension.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to find studies on the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis in which duplex sonography and intraarterial angiography were compared and in which sensitivity and specificity were calculated. MEDLINE (1966-2005), EMBASE (1988-2005), and reference lists were searched and the authors contacted.