Which condition is a known cause of secondary hypertension?

Secondary hypertension refers to high blood pressure that is a result of another underlying condition. Renal stenosis, which is the narrowing of one or both renal arteries, is a well-documented cause of secondary hypertension. When the renal arteries narrow, the kidneys receive less blood, which triggers the release of renin, an enzyme that starts a cascade of reactions leading to increased blood pressure. This process is part of the body's natural response to maintain adequate renal perfusion and systemic blood pressure.

In contrast, leukemia, thalassemia major, and myocardial infarction are not typically associated with the direct development of secondary hypertension. While they may contribute to a variety of cardiovascular issues and other complications, they do not have the same direct physiological mechanism leading to elevated blood pressure that renal stenosis does. Thus, renal stenosis stands out as the condition closely linked to the development of secondary hypertension.