THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF LEVOVIST IN DOPPLER IMAGING OF RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH RENOVASCULAR HYPERTENSION BEFORE AND AFTER ANGIOPLASTY

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic value of Levovist in ultrasound imaging of renal artery stenosis in patients with renovascular hypertension before and after percutaneous angioplasty (PTA). Methods and Materials: During 12 months 185 patients were referred to our department for renal artery Doppler examinations. Arterial hypertension was an indication for duplex scanning. Ultrasound examinations were performed using color and spectral Doppler technique before and after intra-venous Levovist injection. We assessed: color doppler images, maximum blood flow velocity, AT and RAR. PTA was performed in patients with…