1. Results of medical and surgical therapy were compared in 28 patients with hypertension and unilateral renovascular ischaemia.
2. Renal function remained normal in both groups throughout the study period. After 6 months of follow-up systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower in the surgically treated patients. After 12 months of follow-up there was no significant difference between the two groups in diastolic blood pressure and after 24 months of follow-up there was no significant difference between the two groups in either systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
3. Sixty per cent of surgically treated patients were cured 6 months after operation, but only 40% remained cured after 24 months of follow-up.
4. All patients cured at 6 months who subsequently required antihypertensive medication had arteriosclerotic renovascular disease.