Renin in the Diagnosis of Renovascular Hypertension

Abstract

Renin activity was assayed in plasma from the right and left renal veins and a peripheral vein in 47 hypertensive patients. Activity was equivalent in the two renal veins in 25 patients without renal artery stenosis; peripheral vein activity averaged 20% less. Ten of 17 patients with angiographic evidence of unilateral renal artery stenosis had significantly greater renin activity in the vein of the involved kidney; peripheral vein renin activity was equal to that from the vein of the uninvolved kidney. Two of five patients with bilateral stenosis had significant differences in renin activity between the two sides. The correlation between the results of the assays and results of surgery (14 cases) was excellent. Differential renal vein renin assays have diagnostic value in the determination of the functional significance of apparent unilateral renovascular disease.