# Diagnostic Approach to Secondary Hypertension: Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis

**Authors:** André Filipe Conchinha, Tiago Pack, Afonso Rodrigues, Sofia Cunha, Pedro Santos

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.101104 · Cureus · 2026-01-08

## TL;DR

This paper presents a case where atherosclerosis in the renal arteries caused resistant hypertension, which was successfully managed after vascular intervention.

## Contribution

The case highlights a rare cause of secondary hypertension and demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted treatment.

## Key findings

- Aortic atherosclerosis involving the renal arteries can lead to resistant hypertension.
- Vascular intervention successfully stabilized blood pressure with reduced antihypertensive medication.
- Abdominal and pelvic CT scans were crucial in diagnosing the renal artery stenosis.

## Abstract

Secondary hypertension stems from identifiable causes, making targeted treatment essential to control blood pressure (BP) and mitigate the occurrence of complications.

We describe a case of resistant hypertension in a 48-year-old male referred to the internal medicine clinic for investigation. A complementary study with abdominal and pelvic computed tomography revealed significant aortic atherosclerosis involving the emergence of the renal arteries, with particularly evident stenosis on the right. Following vascular intervention, the patient's BP stabilized with just two antihypertensive agents at reduced doses.

This case illustrates how extensive renal artery atherosclerosis can cause significant stenosis, leading to secondary hypertension.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** atherosclerosis (MONDO:0005311)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** stenosis (MESH:D003251), Hypertension (MESH:D006973), Renal Artery Stenosis (MESH:D012078), aortic atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), Secondary (MESH:D000068376)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12882809/full.md

## References

16 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12882809/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12882809