Unilateral Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Rare Cause of Primary Aldosteronism

A 73-year-old gentleman with a background history of long-standing hypertension and hyperlipidaemia presented with one-year history of persistent asymptomatic hypokalaemia associated with metabolic alkalosis. Within a few months, the hypertension worsened, needing increasing dose of anti-hypertensive agents. Biochemical test showed an elevated aldosterone-renin ratio but the computerized tomography (CT) scan of adrenal did not show any adrenal mass. Arterial stimulation venous sampling (ASVS) lateralized the lesion to the left side. A left retroperitoneal adrenalectomy was performed with immediate reversal of hypokalaemia and improvement of blood pressure control to only single anti-hypertensive agent.

Secondary hyperaldosteronism and hypertension

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor affecting about 10-40% of the adult population. Secondary endocrine hypertension most often results from excessive aldosterone secretion. Complications related to excessive aldosterone secretion include atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, myocardial fibrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and increased cardiovascular mortality. Case report: This report presents a hypotensive woman with hypertensive reactions, newly diagnosed unilateral hyperplasia of the left adrenal gland and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Due to good blood pressure and normalized electrolyte status as a result of antihypertensive drug therapy and absence of damage to target organs, surgical treatment of unilateral adrenal hyperplasia was postponed. Conclusion: In case of midlife and late-life hypertension, it is necessary to consider a cause in the patient's endocrine system. AUTHORS SUMMARY SRPSKI 2021; 50 (1,2) 51-54