Hemodynamic and plasma renin responses to treatment of a renal arteriovenous malformation

We report a case of a right renal arteriovenous malformation with high output cardiac failure and hypertension which was cured by nephrectomy. Hemodynamic findings pre- and post-operatively are presented. Plasma renin activity (PRA), both from peripheral venous and renal vein samples, was assessed. The fall in PRA associated with nephrectomy lends support to the suggestion that the renin-angiotensin system plays a role in the hypertension in these patients.