Hypertensive Encephalopathy in a Chinese Girl Secondary to Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumour of the Kidney

Hypertension owing to a neoplasm of juxtaglomerular cell origin, commonly called Juxtaglomerular cell tumour (JGCT), had been reported with increasing frequency since the initial description in 1967. The hypertensive effects, usually poorly responsive to antihypertensive medications, are often incapacitating. We describe a JGCT which caused hypertensive encephalopathy in an 11-year-old Chinese girl. This tumour appears to be benign and makes comprehensive investigations for this treatable cause of hypertension worthwhile. (HK J Paediatr (new series) 2005;10:109-114)