title: [Primary hyperaldosteronism. A study of 18 cases].
abstract: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is defined as an autonomous over-production of aldosterone by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal glands. It is classically considered as a rare cause of hypertension. Aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) and idiopatic hyperoldosteronism (IHA) represent the most frequent subtypes of PA. The authors report 18 cases of PA (14 women an 4 men) with a mean age of 42 +/- 13.5 years. All patients have hypertension and hypokaliemia (K < 3.5 mmol/l). Eleven patients have an APA, one patient has an adrenal carcinoma and three patients have IHA. The subtype of PA has not been established in three patients. We discuss in this article the clinical, biological, radiological and evolutif characteristics of our cases, and we insist on the necessity of making a precise etiologic diagnosis to propose the most adequate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie et de Médecine Interne Unité d'Endocrinologie, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.forename: Nejib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khiari
authors.forename: Ali Insaf
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hadj
authors.forename: Hedi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Maïz
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yahyaoui
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Essaies
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ktari
authors.forename: Borni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zidi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin; D011188:Potassium