Renal artery stenosis and polycystic kidney disease.

A patient had unilateral renal artery stenosis and, at the same time, bilateral polycystic kidney disease. The renal venous renin ratio of 151:40, together with a high peripheral plasma renin activity, indicated that the hypertension was partially caused by renopressor mechanism. Correction of the obstructive lesion permitted a better control of hypertension with antihypertensive drugs, and the peripheral and renal venous renin activity returned to normal. The success in detecting one pathogenic mechanism responsible for arterial hypertension should not deter further diagnostic efforts.