Elevated pressure in the left renal vein in patients with varicocele: preliminary observations.

In 3 patients with varicocele a pressure difference was found between the left renal vein and inferior vena cava. No pressure difference was found between the right renal vein and inferior vena cava in these same patients. In a control group of 5 patients right and left renal veins and inferior vena cava pressures closely approximated each other. These preliminary findings are discussed and found to be in disagreement with current concepts of the pathogenesis of varicocele.