Refractory hypotension and edema caused by right atrial compression in a woman with polycystic kidney disease.

We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with a history of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and long-standing hypertension who developed persistent hypotension. While in the hospital for the treatment of bacteriemia, the patient had low systolic blood pressures (90 to 100 mm Hg), which was thought to be the consequence of infection. After the infection was adequately controlled and the blood pressure did not improve, an echocardiogram was done to further elucidate her hypotension.