During a 6 year period 60 patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease were followed by a single renal unit.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were being taken by 22% of patients at the time of diagnosis of the atherosclerotic renovascular disease.

Intervention to revascularize renal tissue by surgery or angioplasty was performed in 32 patients.

Revascularization was not undertaken because of unilateral disease, patient preference, poor operative risk or renal size.

The mean age for the nonintervention group was 66.9 years and 63.4 years for the intervention group.

Peripheral vascular disease was common in both groups (96% nonintervention group versus 86% intervention group).