Secondary hypertension due to a renin-producing teratoma

Twenty cases of extrarenal renin-secreting tumors have been reported, but this is the first case of a renin-producing teratoma. The patient was a 17-year-old African American girl who presented with hypertension and hypokalemia, and who was documented to have a plasma aldosterone–to–renin activity ratio consistent with secondary aldosteronism. Computed tomography demonstrated a pelvic tumor suspicious for a teratoma. With no other apparent etiology for the secondary aldosteronism, the teratoma was suspected to be an extrarenal renin-secreting tumor. This was confirmed after surgery by pathologic evaluation, and significantly reduced requirements for antihypertensive medication and potassium supplementation. Am J Hypertens 2003;16:592–595 @ 2003 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.