title: Case report: a rare cause of metabolic alkalosis.
abstract: A case of a 66-year-old white man with recent onset of oedema, hypertension, metabolic alkalosis and profound hypokalaemia is described. The initial laboratorial workup showed that urinary chloride concentration and potassium excretion were increased, suggesting a state of hyperaldosteronism. Nonetheless, renin activity was low and aldosterone levels were normal. The metabolic alkalosis seen in this case was due to a rare cause, the ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome. A literature review in the subject is presented.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Hospital das Clínicas, Sao Paulo University Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Titan
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Otávio C E
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Gebara
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia H V
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Callas
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Division, Fleury Laboratory, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: P C A
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Galvão
keywords: ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome; hypokalaemia; metabolic alkalosis