Occlusion of a Renal Artery as a Cause of Hypertension

Abstract

This paper presents three cases and the summary of a fourth case, in which occlusion of a renal artery was the cause of hypertension. Three patients were relieved of hypertension by nephrectomy. The literature on nonembolic renal artery occlusion with hypertension is reviewed, including 21 autopsy reports and 16 cases in which the patients were relieved of hypertension by nephrectomy or thromboendarterectomy. When a patient is found to have renal hypertension, the possibility of renal artery occlusion should be considered. Translumbar aortography currently is the best means of demonstrating renal artery occlusion.