This study retrospectively reviewed the technical and clinical results of percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasty (PTRA) for non-atheromatous renal artery stenosis (RAS) in a Tertiary Renal Referral Centre. Forty-three patients (including 9 children) underwent 49 PTRA procedures for stenoses of 63 arteries over the period 1984-2001 (14 patients had bilateral stenosis treated during one procedure. There were 29 females and 14 males (age range 1-72 years, median 37 years). The etiology of the RAS was classical beaded FMD (medial fibroplasia) in 24, atypical or "variant FMD" with a more focal stenosis (intimal fibroplasia) in 11, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF) in 7 and Takayasu's Arteritis in 1. Five of the NF patients had angioplasty for stenoses following vascular repair procedures. A technically good result was obtained in 34/34 arteries with "classical" RAS, 9/13 atypical arteries, 11/15 arteries of NF patients and in the one Takayasu's case. Clinical follow-up for a mean of 16 months revealed a cure rate of hypertension in classical FMD of 35% with improvement in a further 55%. In the atypical FMD cases, follow-up was obtained on 6 patients with 2 cures and the other 4 demonstrating benefit. There was a better chance of cure in younger patients. In native artery PTRA in children with NF, only 1 out of 3 patients was 'cured' post-PTRA, and 2 out of 3 failed. However, in postsurgical stenoses in NF patients 1 out of 4 patients was 'cured' and 3 out of 4 improved. In conclusion, classical FMD responds well to PTRA with better results in younger patients. Atypical FMD, especially in children and when associated with NF, is less predictable. Stenoses consequent to revascularization surgery respond well to PTRA.