Aldosterone-producing adenoma--variable serum aldosterone response to postural change: a case report.
A 25-year-old female was admitted for evaluation of hypertension and hypokalemia. Plasma renin activity was suppressed and plasma aldosterone level was higher than normal. The CT scan of adrenal gland revealed a 2.5cm in size low density tumor mass over right adrenal area, and NP-59 adrenal scan showed early and persistent uptake of radioactivity in the right adrenal gland. Interestingly, the plasma aldosterone level was elevated, decreased and unchanged to postural change on three different occasions. After right adrenalectomy, the plasma aldosterone level decreased to 4.77ng/dl, blood pressure, serum potassium, and plasma aldosterone returned to normal response to postural change. Histologically, it was compatible with the picture of cortical adenoma. However, the tumor cell may not have reached autonomous function yet, since different responses of plasma aldosterone to postural change were observed clinically.
Lee
S P
SP
Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, R.O.C.
Lin
H D
HD
Chen
M T
MT
Wang
G G
GG
Ching
K N
KN
Chiang
B N
BN
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture
D000450:Aldosterone