Hypertension due to renal tuberculosis: assessment by renal vein renin sampling

A 36-year-old man with asymptomatic hypertension was shown to have destruction of the right kidney due to renal tuberculosis. The peripheral renin level was normal, but renal vein renin sampling showed predominant renin secretion from the right kidney both in basal samples and after acute stimulation of renin release with intravenous diazoxide. Nephrectomy has resulted in marked reduction of blood pressure without treatment one year after operation. The findings support the predictive value of renal vein renin sampling when hypertension is associated with renal parenchymal disease, even when peripheral renin is normal.