Transient renal artery stenosis produced by a pheochromocytoma

A hypertensive young woman was referred for renal artery angioplasty with the radiographic finding of a right renal artery stenosis and elevated right renal vein plasma renin activity. A repeat preangioplasty arteriogram, obtained six weeks after the institution of antihypertensive therapy that included a vasodilator, demonstrated a diminished right renal artery stenosis and showed a right adrenal pheochromocytoma that was removed surgically. After surgery both the right renal artery caliber and the blood pressure returned to normal. Knowledge of this unusual association between pheochromocytoma and renovascular hypertension could prevent ineffective and unnecessary renal artery angioplasty and/or surgery.