# von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome and Secondary Hypertension: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes a young man with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and secondary hypertension, emphasizing the importance of considering genetic disorders in diagnosing resistant hypertension.

## Contribution

The report highlights the diagnostic approach and clinical features of VHL syndrome in a young patient with resistant hypertension.

## Key findings

- A 21-year-old male with VHL syndrome presented with resistant hypertension and multiple pancreatic and renal cysts.
- Imaging confirmed the presence of a suprarenal mass consistent with pheochromocytoma.
- The case underscores the need to evaluate secondary causes of hypertension in young patients.

## Abstract

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome (OMIM #193300) is an autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetrance occurring due to a mutation in the VHL gene present on chromosome 3. We present the case of a 21-year-old male with a history of retinoblastoma presenting with intermittent headaches for one month. He was a known hypertensive and his blood pressure on presentation was 180/100 mmHg. A secondary cause for his hypertension was sought. Multiple cysts in his pancreas, both his kidneys, and a mass in the right suprarenal fossa were detected on an abdominal ultrasonogram and a subsequent computed tomography scan of the abdomen. VHL and a pheochromocytoma were suspected, and a positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan was done which collaborated with the above findings. The presence of multiple cystic lesions in the pancreas and kidneys, especially in an individual with a family history of VHL syndrome, should alert the physician to the possibility of VHL syndrome. The need for evaluation of causes for hypertension, especially in young individuals with resistant hypertension, is also highlighted.