[Retroperitoneal fibrosis--clinical response to steroid treatment]

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is an inflammatory disease, which is either idiopathic or secondary to infection, neoplasm, hemorrhage, aortic aneurysm or drugs. This is a rare disease usually presenting constitutional symptoms, abdominal, back or flank pain and urinary frequency. Treatment includes surgical relief of urethral obstruction and corticosteroids. There is no clear evidence of the beneficial effect of corticosteroids treatment on the course of retroperitoneal fibrosis. We report a patient diagnosed with retroperitoneal fibrosis with an unusual presentation--uncontrolled HTN and renal failure due to renal arteries obstruction, without any abdominal symptoms. This patient responded to steroids and tamoxifen. A review of the literature is also presented.