Pathology | Renovascular Disease - [click on image(s) below]
Malignant Hypertension
Occurs in 1-5% of hypertensive patients: can develop in previously healthy patients but is more often superimposed on preexisting benign hypertension or chronic renal disease
Etiology is variable, but the clinical course is severe and -- if left untreated -- has a rapidly downhill progression
Gross: dependent on the duration and severity of the hypertensive disease; small petechial hemorrhages give a flea-bitten appearance to the kidneys.
Microscopic features:
interlobular arteries and arterioles demonstrate densely eosinophilic material representing fibrinoid necrosis of the vessel walls
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