Malignant hypertension revisited: the role of bilateral nephrectomy

Hypertension is the leading cause of renal failure in this dialysis and transplant center. When malignant hypertension is encountered, the symptom complex of cachexia and failure to thrive highlights its clinical presentation. The courses of 32 black renal hypertensive patients studied retrospectively demonstrated this symptom complex as well as prolongation of survival, when bilateral nephrectomy and renal transplantation were used as definitive treatment.