Unfortunately, because renal artery stenosis develops slowly over several years there are usually no symptoms. Typical signs your doctor may look for that may indicate renal artery stenosis include: a whooshing sound in your abdomen your doctor may hear with a stethoscope, early onset of high blood pressure, difficult to control blood pressure, decline in kidney function after beginning certain types of blood pressure medicine, slowly worsening renal function and recurrent pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure.
If your doctor suspects renal artery stenosis screening blood tests may be done as part of the general evaluation of high blood pressure and may include a complete blood count, electrolytes, kidney function tests, and a urinalysis. Non-invasive ests such as duplex ultrasound, CT angiography or MR angiography may be ordered to evaluate the renal arteries. Occasionally a minimally invasive angiogram is necessary to evaluate the artery directly.
