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PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM
Author(s) -
HUDSON BRYAN,
BARNETT A.,
BORNSTEIN J.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1957.6.3.250
Subject(s) - primary aldosteronism , polyuria , aldosterone , medicine , urine , urine osmolality , endocrinology , metabolic alkalosis , hypokalemia , antidiuretic , hyperaldosteronism , hormone , diabetes mellitus
SUMMARY A female patient, aged thirty‐one years, suffering from primary aldosteronism due to adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome) is described. She presented with hypertension of the order of 240/120 millimetres of mercury associated with weakness, polyuria up to five litres a day, and an electrocardiogram showin; ST depression and prominent U waves in various leads. The serum potassium content was lowered, and there was marked alkalosis with a failure to concentrate urine. The urine contained aldosterone in concentration of 10 to 11 microgrammes per litre, and the plasma aldosterone level was approximately • 8 microgrammes per 100 millilitres. A left suprarenal tumour, demonstrated by presacral air insufflation, was removed at operation. The hypertension and metabolic abnormalities reverted to normal. The alkalosis appeared to be secondary to the hypokælemia and was partly corrected by administration of potassium citrate. Observations suggested that the defect in urine concentration was due to antagonism to antidiuretic hormone. Methods used for estimating mineralo‐corticoid activity of plasma and urine are outlined.