Named after and described by IRVINE HEINLY PAGE, who was one of the first pioneer’s to describe the Renin-Angiotensin system. He was a chemistry major and later a US Physician who did not practice medicine but dedicated his life to research on hypertension.

He demonstrated if a dogs kidney was wrapped in Cellophane, it resulted in hypertension. This hypertension resolved if the kidney was removed. He pointed out that the hypertension was not due to compression of the renal artery, rather due to the compression of the renal parenchyma (and therefore the renal vasculature within the renal parenchyma).

He suggested that this might be the same mechanism to cause hypertension in humans if someone develops a peri-renal hematoma secondary to trauma or surgery or when a large renal tumor or cyst compresses the renal parenchyma.

He demonstrated that removal of the affected kidney also resolved the hypertension.

References:

• Irvine Heinly Page 1901-1991, A Biographical Memoir by Harriet P. Dustan published by National Academy of Sciences in 1995
• Engel WJ, Page IH. Hypertension Due to Renal Compression Resulting From Subcapsular Hematoma. Journal of Urology [Internet]. 1955 May 1 [cited 2025 Dec 15];73(5):735–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(17)67466-4
• PAGE IH. THE PRODUCTION OF PERSISTENT ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION BY CELLOPHANE PERINEPHRITIS. JAMA. 1939;113(23):2046–2048. doi:10.1001/jama.1939.02800480032008

Initially it was observed that renal artery atheroscleoris was associated with hypertension. However it was a chicken and egg problem, as there was no true consensus on whether the hypertension caused the atherosclerotic plaques or if the atherosclerosis caused hypertension. Goldblatt published his experiments in 1934 which reported development of hypertension when the renal arteries of dogs were clamped. This concluded that renal ischemia produced by stenosis of the renal arteries produces hypertension as a compensatory mechanism to improved renal perfusion. Persistent stenosis of renal arteries caused renal failure and death of the experimental animals.

Ref: Harry Goldblatt, James Lynch, Ramon F. Hanzal, Ward W. Summerville; STUDIES ON EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION : I. THE PRODUCTION OF PERSISTENT ELEVATION OF SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE BY MEANS OF RENAL ISCHEMIA . J Exp Med 1 March 1934; 59 (3): 347–379. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.59.3.347