Clinical Spectrum of Intrinsic Renovascular Hypertension in Children

Abstract

In the past two decades, 853 children and adolescents have been evaluated for elevated BP as inpatients and outpatients by the hypertension service at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati. Most children with hypertension secondary to coarctation of the aorta and all children with glomerulonephritis are managed by other services and are not included in that total. In a retrospective study, 27 children (3%) were identified as having hypertension secondary to intrinsic renal arterial stenosis. The age at presentation ranged from 5 months to 20 years. The mean BP at that time was 171.6/114.2 mm Hg. Ten categories of causes were identified, including fibromuscular dysplasia, arteritis, Williams syndrome, neurofibromatosis, congenital malformations, blunt abdominal trauma, surgical vascular trauma-irradiation, thrombosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and unknown. Overall, symptoms were notcommon. However, findings of end-organ response, such as left ventricular hypertrophy and retinal vascular abnormalities were prevalent. This is not surprising given the mean BP level at presentation. Physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiologic evaluations (exclusive of renal angiography) were not useful in detecting or identifying the location and extent of the renovascular lesions. Fourteen patients were treated surgically, and 13 were managed medically. The outcome was variable for both treatment modalities. The management of renovascular hypertension in children must be individualized depending on the cause, location, and severity of the lesion, as well as the size of the child. Some forms of renovascular pathology, particularly the arteritides, may resolve spontaneously, and children with these entities should have their BP treated medically until the inflammatory process has subsided. In selected patients, surgery often decrease the BP and may lead to a cure. However, a successful outcome is by no means assured.