Primary aldosteronism. A study in contrasts

Am J Med. 1975 Sep;59(3):334-42. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(75)90391-5.

Abstract

Two patient with primary aldosteronism, one with a solitary adrenal adenoma and the other with bilateral nodular hyperplasia, are described. Both patients showed the classic features of primary aldosteronism in electrolyte and hormone patterns, but there were important differences in the biochemistry of their excised adrenal tissue. In addition, the injection of plasma from the patient with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia into the sheep's transplanted adrenal gland elicited a definite aldosterone secretory response, but there was no aldosterone response to the injection of plasma from the patient with a solitary adrenal adenoma. The findings support the hypothesis that an extra-adrenal stimulus may contribute to the pathogenesis of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / complications
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / analysis
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / complications
  • Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / etiology
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Adult
  • Aldosterone / analysis
  • Aldosterone / blood
  • Aldosterone / urine
  • Animals
  • Biological Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / etiology
  • Hyperaldosteronism / metabolism*
  • Potassium / blood
  • Potassium / urine
  • Renin / blood
  • Sheep

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Aldosterone
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Renin
  • Potassium