Bilateral Nephrectomy, the Forgotten Measure in the Treatment of Refractory Hypertension in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

It's not uncommon for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to develop hypertension that is resistant to antihypertensive medications and volume control, making it a challenge to control blood pressure in those patients. In this article, we present a 71-year-old female with a history of ESRD on intermittent hemodialysis (IHD), who developed refractory hypertension despite the use of seven antihypertensive agents in addition to IHD. The patient underwent bilateral nephrectomy as a last resort therapy for managing resistant hypertension, which led to a significant improvement in blood pressure (BP) and decreasing the number and doses of antihypertensive agents. This article aims to raise the awareness and alertness of clinicians to the efficacy of bilateral nephrectomy as rescue therapy for refractory hypertension in hemodialysis patients.