[Renal thrombotic microangiopathy with benign hypertension and uremia secondary to oral contraceptives (author's transl)].

A 34-year-old woman developed uremia secondary to severe renal thrombotic microangiopathy after 3 years intake of oral contraceptives. In this particular case manifestation of end stage renal failure was preceded by an unusually long lasting period of nine months with benign hypertension. Even during the final stage (3-4 weeks) prior to complete development of uremia only once hemolysis but no malignant hypertension was observed. Only close long term follow up including renal biopsy and subtile functional tests may provide information whether and/or when hypertension due to oral contraceptives turns to become--at least in part--renal hypertension and also becomes persistent. This observation does not give evidence that benign hypertension causes renovascular damage and thus renal failure. Plasma renin activity was found to be basically elevated and furthermore stimulated e.g. by dialyses. However, this single observation does not permit any conclusion about a pathogenetic role of renin in creating hypertension by e.g. renal vasoconstriction or--despite hypertension--collapse of the capillary network.