Long-term follow-up of a girl with primary aldosteronism: effect of potassium supplement.
We followed up a girl with primary aldosteronism for 8 y, which was diagnosed at 6 y of age when she was referred to us for evaluation of heart murmur and growth failure. The diagnosis of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia was made by selective adrenal venous sampling. Following potassium supplement, her retarded growth was corrected dramatically, and she attained a normal adult height. Puberty developed normally and menarche occurred at 12 y of age. Blood pressure was also controlled adequately. Myocardial hypertrophy associated with aortic damage was noted at 13 y of age. Chronic renal failure developed with proteinuria and enlarged renal cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum electrolytes should be included in the evaluation of children with impaired growth. Although primary aldosteronism is a rare occurrence in children, the condition appears to deserve special attention not only from the viewpoint of growth failure and hypokalaemia but from the occurrence of late organ damage to the kidney and heart.
Takaya
Junji
J
Department of Paediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan. takaya@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Isozaki
Yuka
Y
Hirose
Yohko
Y
Higashino
Hirohiko
H
Noda
Yukihiro
Y
Kobayashi
Yohnosuke
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000209:etiology; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone; D011189:Potassium Chloride