What causes RAS?
In an overwhelming majority of cases, RAS is caused by atherosclerosis, hardening of the kidney arteries. Thus, RAS develops when a material called plaque builds up on the inner wall of one or both of the renal arteries. The plaque makes the artery wall hard and narrow. This narrowing reduces or cuts off the blood supply, possibly damaging the kidney. The damaged kidney is less efficient at removing wastes and extra fluid from the blood. This plaque is similar to plaques blocking the arteries supplying the heart, which cause heart attacks, and those blocking arteries supplying the brain, which cause strokes. In renal artery stenosis, plaque builds up on the inner wall of the artery that supplies blood to the kidney. When the kidneys fail, wastes and extra fluid build up in the blood. This condition, called uremia, causes nausea, headaches, fatigue, and swelling in the legs and abdomen. With total kidney failure, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
