Hypertension in a 32-year-old female: misleading initial diagnosis leads to discovery of arterial hypertension due to adrenal pheochromocytoma

This case study examines a 32-year-old female patient presenting with arterial hypertension, initially misdiagnosed as having essential hypertension based on her clinical symptoms and routine diagnostic assessments. Despite standard antihypertensive treatment, her blood pressure remained poorly controlled, raising concerns about secondary causes of hypertension. Further comprehensive evaluation, including advanced vascular imaging techniques such as Doppler ultrasound and CT angiography, revealed significant renal artery stenosis, leading to the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension. Renovascular hypertension, a secondary form of arterial hypertension, is often caused by a narrowing of the renal arteries, reducing blood flow to the kidneys and triggering the release of hormones that increase blood pressure. This case highlights the importance of considering secondary causes in patients with persistent or resistant hypertension, particularly when initial treatment strategies fail. Early recognition and appropriate diagnostic workup for conditions such as renal artery stenosis can significantly improve patient outcomes by guiding the correct therapeutic approach, including interventional procedures such as angioplasty or stenting to restore proper blood flow. Additionally, this case emphasizes the critical role of advanced imaging modalities in diagnosing vascular-related causes of hypertension, which may be overlooked in routine clinical practice.