title: Familial mineralocorticoid induced hypertension in the sultanate of oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Oman, many hypertensive patients with a family history of the disease respond to treatment with spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor (MC-R) blocking agent thus suggesting a high prevalence of mineralocorticoid (MC) induced disease. The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of MC induced disease in patients with a positive family history of hypertension (HTN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum calcium, potassium, creatinine, aldosterone and renin levels were measured under standard conditions in all patients together with an abdominal ultrasound scan and an adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan in four patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this small study, we show that 18 of the 27 patients (66%) had undetectable (suppressed) renin levels with usually normal aldosterone values (14 patients) and respond to treatment with spironoactone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that MC induced hypertension is likely to be common in the Middle East. In evolutionary terms, this makes sense as the ability to conserve salt in hot climates might be expected to confer a definite survival advantage.
authors: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman;
authors: Nicholas Jy
authors: NJ
authors: Woodhouse
authors: Omayma T
authors: OT
authors: Elshafie
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Ben Abid
authors: Suhail A
authors: SA
authors: Doi