Renal-Pressor Hypertension Secondary to Unilateral Hydronephrosis

Abstract

In a patient with hypertension temporally related to unilateral hydronephrosis the kidney disorder appeared to be a complication of abdominal pregnancy. Renal arterial disease and urinary-tract infection were excluded as contributing causes for the hypertension. Renal-vein catheterization demonstrated greatly increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system in the kidney affected by hydronephrosis. Corrective ureteral surgery resulted in cure of hypertension, with restoration of normal renal pressor activity. Early diagnosis and treatment are common factors shared by this case with the few reported cases in which hypertension associated with hydronephrosis has been alleviated by surgery.