If, you have clogged kidney arteries, before rushing to have angioplasty done for opening them up, you may consider trying medicines, as the expensive procedure is hardly effective and surprisingly carries big risks.

Over 250,000-Americans are estimated to have a narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the kidneys, caused usually by a build-up of fatty plaque in people who are mostly 50-plus, and which can result in high blood pressure, including kidney failure. Every year, one out of six patients with the condition dies from it.

According to a British study and other experts, while 16% of patients newly diagnosed with blockages in kidney blood vessels undergo angioplasty, and occasionally the more-invasive artery bypass surgery, it could be a dangerous mistake.

Patients with severe kidney artery blockages were divided into two groups, with one group treated just with medicines, while the other received the same drugs, including under-going angioplasty. Doctors at several British hospitals and universities on comparing the results found the angioplasty group fared no better, and some patients even suffered serious complications, such as, deaths and amputations.

While, highly popular and adopted in widespread use, no benefits were found for the angioplasty procedure.

The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals, all patients received drugs for lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure and preventing blood clots.

Researchers found, after an average of three years, both groups had similar rates for death, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, declining kidney function leading to a transplant or dialysis. However, in the first month 20% of the angioplasty patients experienced related complications, such as, two deaths, three amputations, five cases of sudden kidney failure, including four hospitalizations for internal bleeding.