title: Polycystic kidney disease presenting with hypertension and hypokalemia.
abstract: Hypokalemic hypertension is a common condition leading to the diagnosis of secondary hypertension. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman for whom the diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease arose during the investigation of possible hyperaldosteronism. Activation of the renin system, as supported by recent studies, can explain the mechanism of hypokalemia and hypertension in this inherited cystic kidney disorder. Clinicians should be aware of this relatively uncommon clinical phenomenon of secondary hypertension in polycystic kidney disease. Increased understanding of the disorder's underlying mechanism should lay the foundation for better appreciation of potentially effective blood pressure treatments. The availability of a direct renin inhibitor may redirect research toward finding a remedy for this troublesome disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, SAR, China. chow_kai_ming@alumni.cuhk.net
authors.forename: Kai Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Ronald Ching-Wan
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Cheuk Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Szeto
authors.forename: Philip Kam-Tao
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005650:Fumarates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016891:Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D005650:Fumarates; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors; C446481:aliskiren