Ischemic nephropathy, a relatively new term coined to describe renal insufficiency due to renal artery disease, is neither a new subject for medicine throughout the country, nor a new problem here in South Dakota. It is an important and overlooked cause of renal insufficiency and is almost certainly under-diagnosed. Five case reports and a review of the entity are described to illustrate the diversity of this clinical presentation. Intervention in such cases was thought to preserve, or even improve renal function, delaying the onset of end stage renal disease (ERSD).