Adenocarcinoma of the kidney and hypertension: report of 2 cases with special emphasis on renin

Abstract

Renin studies were done on 2 patients with adenocarcinoma of the kidney and hypertension. In 1 case plasma renin activity was high in the peripheral and renal veins, with a renal vein ratio of 1.7 favoring the side of the tumor. Nephrectomy cured the hypertension and renin values became normal. Tissue renin was elevated in the tumor and surrounding parenchyma. Acidification studies of tissue extracts failed to demonstrate the existence of big renin. In case 2 all renin values were normal and the blood pressure remained elevated after the operation. Although renin-secreting tumors remain an uncommon cause of malignant hypertension the condition should be recognized because it is potentially curable.