Postradiation renovascular hypertension.

Radiation injury to arteries can represent a significant complication of therapeutic irradiation, even when the dosage used has not been excessive as judged by approved protocols. Children in whom therapeutic abdominal irradiation has been used should be monitored indefinitely for the development of hypertension. The presence of hypertension in such children with normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, and without proteinuria, should prompt investigation for a renovascular lesion. Standard bypass procedures are usually effective, although the long-term success may be compromised by continuing changes in affected vessels.