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Renal artery bruit
System: Kidney & Urinary Signs · All kidney & urinary signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
A whooshing sound heard with the stethoscope over the upper abdomen or flank, in time with the heartbeat, suggesting turbulent blood flow in a narrowed kidney artery.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with renal artery stenosis, one cause of secondary hypertension and declining kidney function.
Related signs — Kidney & Urinary Signs
Browse the R section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.