An uncommon cause of renovascular hypertension

Abstract

Renovascular hypertension is usually due to an atherosclerotic artery stenosis or a fibromuscular dysplasia. We describe an uncommon cause of renal ischemia. A 66-year-old woman was admitted for severe hypertension. During her stay, she presented an acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary angiography. After a flank pain, a contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography scan was performed which revealed a stenosis of the left main renal artery. However, renal angiography displayed a thrombosis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a mobile mass attached to the mitral valve. A diagnosis of renal artery thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction both resulting from a cardiac tumour embolism was established.