Encephalopathy in renovascular hypertension associated with the use of oral contraceptives

Two female patients aged 19 years and 27 years presented with hypertensive encephalopathy and were subsequently found to have renal artery stenosis due to fibromuscular dysplasia. Both patients had had normal blood pressures recorded within the previous 6 months whilst taking the oral contraceptive pill. Their neurological state returned to normal with hypertensive control and in one case the hypertension was cured by dilatation of the renal artery stenosis by balloon angioplasty.