title: Prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in a systemic arterial hypertension league.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until recently, primary hyperaldosteronism was considered a rare cause of secondary hypertension. However, in recent years, many studies have suggested that this disease can affect up to 20% of hypertensive individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in hypertensive patients treated at the hypertension league of a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum aldosterone and plasma renin activity levels were measured in 105 patients while they were undergoing standard antihypertensive treatment, with the exception of those using betablockers and spironolactone, in fasting condition and after rest in the supine position for 20 minutes. Those with an aldosterone/plasma renin activity ratio > 25 were submitted to the saline suppression test and, after the confirmation of the autonomy of aldosterone secretion, a computed tomography of the adrenals was performed. The results are presented as percentages and means and standard deviations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 105 patients, 6.54% presented refractory hypertension. Nine presented an aldosterone/plasma renin activity ratio > 25 (8.5% of the total). Of these, 08 were submitted to the saline suppression test and 01 (with refractory hypertension) had the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism confirmed (0.96% of the total). A computed tomography of the adrenals was performed, which showed normal results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in the studied sample was 0.96% of the total. However, when only the patients with refractory hypertension were evaluated, the prevalence was 14.3%.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Presidente Dutra, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Jacqueline Silva
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: José Albuquerque de
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo Neto
authors.forename: Edson Viriato
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Memória
authors.forename: Maíra de Castro
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Manuel dos Santos
authors.initials: Mdos S
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Natalino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salgado Filho
authors.forename: Thiara Castro de
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012146:Rest
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin