Horseshoe Kidney, Renal Arterial Anomalies, and Hypertension: A Study of One Family

Abstract

A patient with symptomless hypertension was shown to have a horseshoe kidney with multiple renal arteries. The history of her family has been studied, and details have been obtained of many members covering four generations. An exceedingly strong family history of hypertension, and in some instances “toxaemia of pregnancy,” has been shown to be associated with renal arterial anomalies: renal dysplasia has been either obvious (in the patient with horseshoe kidney) or inferred by arterial anomalies with or without abnormal renal shape. The study of this family appears to provide additional evidence to support the view that renal arterial anomalies, renal dysplasia, and hypertension are associated and can be inherited. © 1968, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.