[Unilateral atrophic kidney and hypertension--the value of plasma renin determination for assessing the indications for nephrectomy].

In unilateral atrophic kidney and hypertension the nephrectomy is the therapy of choice. The nephrectomy is, however, indicated only then, when a causal pathogenetic connection of atrophic kidney and hypertension is proved. As criterion of the proof of such a connection according to our experiences the side-separated determination of the plasma renin activity in the venous blood of the kidneys stood the test. A renal vein renin quotient greater than 1.5, moreover, permits a rather reliable prognostic evidence concerning the behaviour of the postoperative blood pressure. In 26 out of 31 hypertensive patients with significant renal vein renin quotient who were nephrectomized for a unilateral atrophic kidney could be achieved a normalization of the blood pressure, in the other 5 patients an improvement of the blood pressure.