Staghorn Calculi as a Cause of Secondary Hypertension: Clinical Case Report

Staghorn calculi are large branching renal stones that may lead to chronic obstructive nephropathy and represent a rare cause of secondary arterial hypertension in childhood. We report a clinical case of a 16-year-old male presenting with persistent hypertension. Diagnostic evaluation revealed elevated plasma renin concentration, reduced renal function and computed tomography findings consistent with complete pelvicalyceal stone involvement and cortical thinning. Other causes of secondary hypertension, including renal artery stenosis, primary aldosteronism and endocrine disorders, were excluded. The most likely mechanism involved chronic obstruction-induced renal ischemia with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Antihypertensive therapy was initiated, and surgical management performed. Stone removal resulted in normalization of blood pressure and recovery of renal function, with blood pressure decreasing. This case highlights the importance of considering urological causes in adolescents with unexplained or resistant hypertension and emphasizes the role of early imaging, multidisciplinary management, and timely intervention to prevent irreversible renal damage and long-term cardiovascular complications.