Neurofibromatosis and hypertension

A case of generalized neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease) associated with hypertension is presented. Adequate repair of the unilateral main artery stenosis did not result in cure of the hypertension because of diffuse neurofibromatous lesions of the smaller renal vessels. Review of the literature reveals that neurofibromatosis of the large and small renal vessels should be suspected in every hypertensive patient with these lesions below the age of eighteen. In view of the fact that vascular neurofibromatosis is a dynamic and spreading disease, surgery of the renal vessels should be reconstructive as much as possible.