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Tuberous sclerosis or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant inherited neurocutaneous disorder that variably affects the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, and other organs. It is characterized by skin and renal lesions in addition to central and peripheral nervous system tumors, with neurological and psychiatric findings. We report such a rare case of tuberous sclerosis in a 25-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and hypertension. Physical examination showed dermatological signs that included hypopigmented maculae, shagreen plaque, angiofibromas on the centrofacial areas, periungual fibromas on toes, and molluscum pendulum around the neck. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed bilateral renal angiomyolipoma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed subependymal nodules and cortical tubers. She also presented retinal and oral lesions. Our patient has a definitive diagnosis of TSC. Hypertension was related to the renal involvement of TSC, and the patient benefitted from oral angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors with a favorable outcome.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an inflammatory process frequently associated with stenosis and obliteration of the aorta and its primary branches. We report a 16-year-old girl in whom TA manifested mainly with a sudden decrease in visual acuity and severe arterial hypertension in both legs. Bilateral radial pulses were absent. Ultrasound showed renal size asymmetry and raised the possibility of renal artery stenosis. The diagnosis of TA was confirmed by computed tomography angiography, which showed a thickened abdominal aortic wall and narrowing of its lumen. In addition, occlusions of left renal artery and of both left and right subclavian arteries were observed. Hypertension was hardly under control by a combination of three antihypertensive drugs. The outcome was favorable with corticosteroids alone with regression of the clinical signs, disappearance of inflammation, and control of hypertension.

To evaluate aortic stiffness in renal transplant patients and to determine the correlation of renal insufficiency and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with aortic pulse wave velocity (APWV), we studied 96 renal transplant patients followed-up at our center. We measured the APWV using transcutaneous Doppler flow recordings and the foot-to-foot method, and calculated the eGFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. The study included 81 (84.4 %) males and 15 (15.6 %) females. The mean age of the patients was 37.84  10.10 years. The mean duration of transplant was 47.90  34.40 months. The eGFR of the patients ranged from 1 to 120 mL/min, with a mean GFR of 72.6  23.2 mL/min. Sixty-seven (69.8%) patients had eGFR > 60 mL/min and hence had stages 1 and 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD), 27 (28.1%) patients had eGFR 30–60 mL/min and hence had stage 3 CKD and two (2.1%) patients had eGFR <30 mL/min and hence had stages 4 and 5 CKD. The APWV of the patients ranged from 4 to 14.2 m/s, with a mean of 7.49  2.47 m/s. A significant inverse correlation was found between the APWV and eGFR (Pearson correlation coefficient, -0.427, P = 0.00). The mean APWV was significantly higher among patients with higher CKD stage, P = 0.004. We conclude that the APWV is related to the renal graft dysfunction as measured by eGFR. The poorer the renal function, the higher was the APWV. Determination of the APWV may be helpful in predicting the outcome in renal transplant recipients.

Post-transplant hypertension is a major risk factor for graft loss and patient survival; therefore, hypertension following renal transplantation must be treated strictly. There seems to be a strong association between hypertension, total body water (TBW) and dry weight. In this study, we report the relationship of body water and body composition with hypertension in postrenal transplant patients. Forty-five post-transplant patients were enrolled in the study. Blood pressure (BP) was labeled as controlled if BP was 120/80 mm Hg and not under good control if BP was above 120/80 mm Hg. Based on the number of antihypertensive medications a patient was taking, patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 patients on one antihypertensive drug and Group 2 patients on more than one antihypertensive drug. Nutritional status of the patients was assessed. Body composition (water compartments, body fat and lean mass) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Patient data were compared with 30 healthy volunteers. In patients, systolic BP was associated with TBW (P = 0.016), extracellular water (ECW Lt; r = 0.99), ECW% (r = 0.78) and diastolic BP with TBW% (P = 0.003), dry weight (r = 0.76) ECW% (r = 0.95) and percent intracellular water (ICW%) (r = 0.79). Compared with controls, ECW and ECW% was higher in patients, and the ICW% was less in patients. There was significant difference in the actual weight of the patients and BIA-derived dry weight, although patients were clinically not edematous. The study showed a significant increase in diastolic BP with increase in dry weight. Significant difference in TBW was observed when the patients were grouped on the basis of the antihypertensive medication a patient was taking (one antihypertensive drug versus more than one antihypertensive drug). This study also showed an association between hypertension and overhydration. BIA may be a useful tool for the clinical assessment of overhydration in non-edematous patients.

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is among the most common forms of secondary hypertension. We studied 21 patients (eight male and 13 female) with RVH who were encountered during a period of 16 years. The average age of the patients was 34.75 years. Trans-renal Doppler ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of renovascular stenosis (RAS) as the cause of RVH in 95% of the patients. Computed tomography angiography was performed in ten cases, which confirmed the diagnosis in all these cases. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed in only three patients. Renal scintigraphy was performed in 11 patients, with DTPA in nine patients and with MAG3 in two cases. Arteriography was performed in 15 cases for therapeutic end points. In two patients, we treated the arteries of both kidneys and in 19 cases we treated only one kidney artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed in ten cases. Renal arterial stent placement was performed in three cases in which RAS was from an atherosclerosis etiology. Surgical revascularization was performed in four cases. Nephrectomy was necessary in four cases. After interventional treatment, medical treatment using antihypertensive drugs was necessary in 17 of the patients. After treatment, three patients returned to normal kidney function, while worsening of glomerular filtration rate was noted in four patients. Some complications such as a kidney infarct after treatment, a nephrectomy, artery thrombosis, an ischemic stroke and recurrent RAS were also noted.