Unilateral renal hypoplasia associated with bicuspid aortic valve

A 20-year-old man with congestive heart failure (CHF) and hypertension (HT) was admitted to hospital. Ultrasonic echocardiography showed that he had aortic stenosis caused by a bicuspid aortic valve. The plasma renin concentration was slightly elevated, and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and renography revealed a hypoplastic kidney that had almost lost its normal function. It is postulated that the increased afterload and preload of the left ventricle induced by both of these abnormalities contributed to the onset of CHF and HT. Pharmacological therapy alone failed to control the CHF and HT, but surgical removal of the hypoplastic kidney was effective in reducing the plasma renin concentration and treating the CHF and HT.