The most common cause of renal artery stenosis is atherosclerosis, the same condition that causes narrowing of the arteries in coronary heart disease and stroke, and the risk factors are the same as well. Cholesterol plaques build up along the walls of the renal artery and gradually cause narrowing.
Oxytocin is a commonly used uterotonic that can cause significant and even fatal hypotension, particularly when given as a bolus. The resulting hypotension can be produced by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance or cardiac output through a decrease in venous return.
You may need any of the following tests to find the cause of your hypotension: 1  Blood tests: A sample of your blood or urine may be checked for anemia or other conditions causing your hypotension. 2  EKG: This test records the electrical activity of your heart.