Optimal treatment of renal artery in-stent restenosis: repeat stent placement versus angioplasty alone.

Objective: We investigated whether repeat renal artery stent placement compared with treatment with balloon angioplasty alone results in better patency in patients presenting with renal artery in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Background: Although stent placement for renal artery stenosis has been demonstrated to be superior to balloon angioplasty for "de novo" renal artery lesions, the optimal therapy for ISR remains unclear.

Methods: Between January 1997 and August 2006, 34 consecutive patients (41 renal arteries) with ISR were treated at the discretion of the operator with balloon angioplasty or repeat stent placement.