Study of Percutaneous Renal Artery Intervention for Patient With Heart Failure

This study will address the role of percutaneous renal intervention for a hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis in patients with heart failure exacerbations. Current guidelines suggest evaluation for renal artery stenosis in patients with pulmonary edema or heart failure that cannot be attributed to poor left ventricular function. While case series have suggested benefit to percutaneous intervention in patients with heart failure, no randomized study has addressed the potential benefit of renal stenting for heart failure patients. Two large randomized trial of renal stenting for hypertension or poor kidney function failed to show benefit in patients with intermediate renal artery lesions. No evaluation of the potential hemodynamic significance of the lesions was performed prior to randomization. The investigators will enroll patients with heart failure exacerbations not attributable to declining left ventricular function, valvular disease, acute coronary syndrome, or heart transplant rejection, who on non-invasive imaging appear to have renal artery stenosis. After routine invasive assessment, including renal angiography and pressure-wire assessment, patients with hemodynamically significant renal artery stenoses will be randomized to stent implantation or medical therapy. Patients will then be followed to determine whether stenting impacts cardiac mortality or hospitalization for heart failure.