Pathogenesis and treatment of hypertension in renal tuberculosis

39 patients underwent partial or total unilateral nephrectomy for treatment of renal tuberculosis. Before surgery, blood pressure was increased in 12 cases (30%). 5 patients had only mild hypertension which was not modified following surgery. 7 patients had moderate to severe hypertension, and in 5 of them blood pressure was normalized following nephrectomy, indicating a renal pressure mechanism. Special investigations in some of these patients revealed no evidence of a pathogenic role of the adrenergic system, but support the participation of the renin-angiotensin system in at least some patients with hypertension associated with renal tuberculosis.