Renovascular Disease and Saralasin Tests

Excerpt

To the editor: The excellent paper by Marks, Maxwell, and Kaufman (Ann Intern Med 87:176-182, 1977) did not discuss their findings of a 100% cure rate after surgery in patients with renovascular disease and hypertension. Even their five patients with nonlateralized renin had blood pressure control: three were cured, two were improved. One of the former had a negative response to saralasin. Thus 40% of their operated patients lacked renin criteria and yet had a successful outcome.

We also have had the opportunity to study 20 patients with renovascular disease and hypertension from 1972-77 at the Los Angeles County-University of