@article {Sangle999, author = {S R Sangle and D P D{\textquoteright}Cruz and W Jan and M Y Karim and M A Khamashta and I C Abbs and G R V Hughes}, title = {Renal artery stenosis in the antiphospholipid (Hughes) syndrome and hypertension}, volume = {62}, number = {10}, pages = {999--1002}, year = {2003}, doi = {10.1136/ard.62.10.999}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Background: Hypertension is common in the antiphospholipid (Hughes) syndrome (APS) and its cause is poorly understood. Anecdotal evidence suggests that renal artery stenosis (RAS) may be a relevant and treatable cause of hypertension. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of RAS in patients with APS and hypertension. Patients and methods: Three groups of patients were evaluated: (1) 77 patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (60 secondary APS, 11 primary APS, and 6 with aPL only) and uncontrolled hypertension who were receiving two or more antihypertensive drugs; (2) 91 patients (⩽50 years) attending hypertension clinics;(3) 92 normotensive healthy, potential renal transplant donors. Magnetic resonance renal angiography was used to image the renal arteries in all three groups. Results: Group 1: 20/77 (26\%) patients had evidence of RAS (16 unilateral and 4 bilateral). Sixteen patients (80\%) had smooth well defined stenoses in the proximal third of the renal artery. Three further patients had irregular arteries without distinct stenosis. Group 2: 7/91 (8\%) hypertensive patients had RAS (χ2=10.3, p\<0.001 v group 1). Group 3: 3/92 (3\%) healthy donors had RAS (χ2=18.2, p\<0.0001 v group 1). Conclusion: A significantly increased prevalence of RAS (26\%) was found in patients with APS and hypertension, compared with relatively young (⩽50 years) hypertensive controls and healthy potential donors.}, issn = {0003-4967}, URL = {https://ard.bmj.com/content/62/10/999}, eprint = {https://ard.bmj.com/content/62/10/999.full.pdf}, journal = {Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases} }