Hypertension, renal vein thrombosis and renal failure (occurring in a patient on an oral contraceptive agent).

A case of accelerated hypertension leading to renal failure in a young woman taking an oral contraceptive agent is described. During the course of her disease the left kidney was documented to decrease in size. Renal vein plasma renin activity was found to be elevated on the left in the absence of renal artery stenosis. Left nephrectomy, prompted by continuing poor blood pressure control, resulted in amelioration of the hypertension. Left renal vein thrombosis was found at surgery. It is suggested that renal vein thrombosis was a contributing factor to this patient's accelerated hypertension and may represent an unusual thrombotic complication of oral contraceptives.