[Residual hypertension after removal of a pheochromocytoma (morphologic study of the kidneys)]

Renal parenchyma, and the juxtaglomerular apparatus in particular, was studied in 23 patients with verified diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Intraoperative renal biopsy was performed in 21 cases, and kidneys obtained at nephrectomy or autopsy were examined in 2 cases. Twenty-one patients were examined following the removal of pheochromocytoma (2 patients died). Arterial BP returned to normal in 86.4%, and residual hypertension due to continuous hyperfunction of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the presence of hypertensive angiosclerosis was recorded in 13.6%. Tubular epithelial atrophy of varying markedness, associated with renal ischemia, was detected in all cases. The pathogenetic contribution of the renin-angiotensin system to pre- and postoperative hypertension in pheochromocytoma patients is discussed.