Objective  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) combined with stent implantation in the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) after renal transplantation.

  Methods  Clinical data of 21 patients with TRAS after renal transplantation undergoing PTA combined with stent implantation were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of TRAS in renal transplant recipients was summarized. The changes of relevant indexes in patients with TRAS were statistically compared before and after interventional treatment. Clinical prognosis of patients with TRAS was evaluated.

  Results  The incidence of TRAS in renal transplant recipients was 4.1%(21/507). TRAS was diagnosed at postoperative 5 (4, 7) months, and 67% (14/21) of patients developed TRAS within postoperative 6 months. Compared with the values before interventional therapy, the serum creatinine level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and peak flow velocity of transplant renal artery of patients with TRAS were significantly decreased, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and interlobar arterial resistance index were significantly increased at 1 week and 1 month after interventional therapy (all P < 0.05). During postoperative follow-up after PTA combined with stent implantation, 1 patient suffered re-stenosis of the transplant renal artery, which was improved after simple balloon dilatation. One patient developed pseudoaneurysm formation at the puncture site of the right femoral artery. One patient presented with renal atrophy and loss of function due to atresia of the transplant renal artery. All the remaining 18 patients were well recovered after surgery.

  Conclusions  PTA combined with stent implantation is the optimal treatment of TRAS after renal transplantation, which can significantly improve the function of transplant kidney and considerably prolong the survival time of transplant kidney.