Hyperplasia of the adrenal medulla in hypertension of children.

Persistently high blood pressure is rare in childhood and warrants detailed investigation. Reviews on this subject by McCrory and Nash (1952) and Daeschner and Dodge (1959) have included extensive discussion of hormonal factors and adrenal tumours, but they make no mention of adrenal medullary hyperplasia. Adrenal medullary hyperplasia was found on histological examination in two children with hypertension. In the absence of a definitive medullary tumour and with negative tests for phaeochromocytoma, hyperplasia may play an important role in the production of the hyperpiesia. The study of these two cases, and of one additional unproven case, forms the basis of this paper. In one of these cases, G.P., microdissection techniques were used to study the nephron morphology and special histological techniques to study the juxtaglomerular body in an attempt to locate the site or origin of the renal pressor substance. Material and Methods