Hypertension and renal artery aneurysm: spontaneous cure.

An 18-year-old man is described with an aneurysm of the left renal artery diagnosed during study for hypertension. Medical treatment achieved control of the blood pressure. The patient voluntarily interrupted treatment 1 1/2 years after initial diagnosis but the blood pressure remained normal. Angiography at that time revealed almost complete thrombosis of the aneurysm and peripheral plasma renin activity returned to normal in contrast to the high figures registered initially (15 ng. per ml., normal values 0.51 to 2.64). The patient had normal blood pressure, received no medication and was on only a salt-free diet 1 year after this event.