Arterial hypertension and ovarian tumour in a girl: what is the link?

Patients with renin-producing tumours are characterized by high circulating active renin and aldosterone levels, hypokalaemia and high blood pressure. Most renin-secreting tumours are of renal origin and are thought to arise from the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Extrarenal renin-secreting tumours are very rare. Pulmonary [1], pancreatic [2], orbital [3] and other origins have been described. Ovarian renin-secreting tumours responsible for secondary hypertension are exceptional. Only one paediatric case has been described in the literature [4]. The role of the ovarian renin angiotensin system has been identified [5]. It plays a crucial role in reproductive functions such as folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation, steroid synthesis, and the formation of the corpus luteum. The amount of secreted renin in the ovary is comparatively low so that secondary hypertension due to ovary derived renin is observed only in situations of tumour formation.