title: Primary hyperaldosteronism with normokalaemia secondary to an adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome) in a 12 year-old boy.
abstract: A 12-1/2 year-old boy presented to the Accident Department following an episode of dizziness and was found to be hypertensive. Investigations revealed primary hyperaldosteronism secondary to an adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome). He had normal electrolytes during the period of investigation and potassium concentrations were > or = 4.2 mmol/l on all but one occasion. The hypertension resolved following excision of the adrenal tumour. Normokalaemia with potassium >4.0 mmol/l is very unusual in patients with Conn's syndrome and has not been described in childhood before. Primary hyperaldosteronism needs to be considered in hypertensive children even when potassium concentrations are well within the laboratory reference range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Cheetham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium