Abstract
Two girls are described, aged 7 and 10 years respectively, who presented with arterial hypertension associated with unilateral kidney disease. Both were cured by nephrectomy, according to criteria for cure which are described in the paper. Only 45 similar cases could be found in the literature; these results are summarized and compared with those obtained in adult patients. The cure rate in children was 76%; similar large series including patients of all ages, but consisting predominantly of adults, show cure rates of only about 25%. It is inferred that the age of the patient is an important factor in determining prognosis, and should be considered in the selection of patients for nephrectomy. Methods of investigation of these patients, and possible mechanisms concerned in the pathogenesis of the hypertension, are briefly discussed.