title: Life-threatening arrhythmia caused by primary aldosteronism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arrhythmias are one of the typical complications of primary aldosteronism (PA), is commonly characterized by hypertension and hypokalemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this report, we present 3 cases of subjects in whom primary aldosteronism manifested with life-threatening arrhythmias. In 2 subjects, after excluding organic heart disease, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was inserted and, only after the second episode of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia accompanied with low plasma potassium levels, the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism was made.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to include diagnosis of primary aldosteronism in the diagnostic work-up of hypertensive subjects without any structural cardiovascular impairment who present with malignant arrhythmia and hypokalemia. Appropriate treatment of primary aldosteronism may avoid insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
authors: 3rd Medical Department of the 1st Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Tomás
authors: T
authors: Zelinka
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Holaj
authors: Ondrej
authors: O
authors: Petrák
authors: Branislav
authors: B
authors: Strauch
authors: Mojmír
authors: M
authors: Kasalický
authors: Tomás
authors: T
authors: Hanus
authors: Vojtech
authors: V
authors: Melenovský
authors: Vlastimil
authors: V
authors: Vancura
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Bürgelová
authors: Jirí
authors: J
authors: Widimský
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy