title: [Primary hyperaldosteronism. Update on a topic of physiopathology and clinical features].
abstract: The authors examine the various forms of primary hyperaldosteronism, outlining the most recent acquisitions in terms of etiopathogenesis and physiopathology. While Conn's original description of primary hyperaldosteronism is a syndrome based on corticoadrenal aldosteronesecreting adenoma, it was later seen that this condition could recognise other anatomic substrates, such as carcinoma and in particular bilateral corticoadrenal hyperplasia. A peculiar form of the latter can be suppressed with glucocorticoids sustained by an anomalous recombination of aldosterone-synthase and 11-beta-hydroxylase. The main focus in this paper is on clinical management, in particular the current diagnostic criteria which show that primary hyperaldosteronism affects a higher percentage of the hypertense population that was estimated in the past. Above all, the significance of the aldosterone/PRA (ARR) ratio in screening for this condition is discussed, above all in normokalemic forms, together with the role of molecular biology in identifying glucocorticoid-suppressible forms. Lastly, the principles of medical and surgical management are outlined, emphasising the role of laparoscopic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi, Torino.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calvelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ajmone-Catt
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Molinatti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limone
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy