Patient description: An 82-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of chest pain and shortness of breath after being awakened in the morning by stabbing substernal chest pain radiating to the left shoulder and jaw. The patient had hypertension, renal-artery stenosis with chronic renal insufficiency, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis and dementia. Blood pressure was 199/108 mm Hg, respiratory rate 18 bpm, oxygen saturation 98% on ambient air. The heart sounds were rapid and with no murmurs. CK-MB was 10.9 ng/ml, CK was 89 U/l, CK index was 12.2% and Troponin T was 0.40 ng/ml. An EKG showed sinus regular tachycardia of 119 bpm, with ST-segment elevations up to 3 mm in V1, V2, and V3. A chest radiograph showed low lung volumes and right basilar subsegmental atelectasis. Coronary angiography showed no stenosis or clinically significant disease. Left ventriculography revealed akinesis of the anterior wall, hypokinesis of the apical and distal inferior walls, and compensatory hyperkinesis of the basal anterior and basal inferior walls. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed severe segmental left ventricular dysfunction involving the septum, anteroseptal territory, and apex. The overall left ventricular systolic function was mildly impaired and there was mild mitral regurgitation.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Heart Failure Men and women age 18 or older referred for invasive evaluation of possible renal artery stenosis will be screened for enrollment Patients must be inpatients admitted for heart failure exacerbation, or have been admitted to a hospital for heart failure exacerbation within the past 90 days. Heart failure is defined as physician documentation or report of any of the following clinical symptoms of heart failure described as dyspnea on exertion, dyspnea occurring in the supine position, fluid retention; or the description of rales, jugular venous distension, pulmonary edema on physical exam, or pulmonary edema on chest x-ray; without being clearly attributable to liver, kidney, or lung disease. Patients must have one of the following: 1. an ejection fraction of 50%; 2. an ejection fraction of 25-50% in the setting of a systolic blood pressure of at least 160 mmHg; or 3. an ejection fraction of 25-50% and a systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mmHg while being treated with at least 2 antihypertensive medications. Patients who meet these and have a proven hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis (as described in the procedure section) will be included  Patients with heart failure from structural heart disease (including greater than moderate dysfunction of the mitral or aortic valve), acute coronary syndrome, post-partum cardiomyopathy, or acute rejection of a transplanted heart will be excluded. Patients who are considered unlikely to survive to hospital discharge will be excluded. Patients with fibromuscular dysplasia, prior renal stenting, or anatomy unsuitable for renal stenting (i.e. prior vascular surgery making stent delivery impossible) will be excluded. Patients who are unable to take aspirin and clopidogrel will be excluded. Patients with a creatinine clearance <30 mL/min or a history of renal transplantation will be excluded. Pregnant women will be excluded