Hypertension in radiation nephritis. Report of a patient with unilateral disease, elevated renin activity levels, and reversal after unilateral nephrectomy.
A patient received intensive radiation to the right renal area for abdominal Hodgkin's disease and approximately ten years later severe hypertension developed. The presence of radiation nephritis with a severely shrunken right kidney was demonstrated and this was accompanied by a substantial increase in renin activity from the right kidney. Treatment with propranolol hydrochloride temporarily lowered the blood pressure and peripheral renin activity levels. Subsequent right nephrectomy resulted in a decrease in renin activity and a reversal of the hypertension. The data implicate a renin angiotensin mechanism as probable cause of hypertension in radiation nephritis.
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009393:Nephritis / Q000150:complications*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism
D012083:Renin