title: Primary hyperaldosteronism: a case of unilateral adrenal hyperplasia with contralateral incidentaloma.
abstract: Primary hyperaldosteronism is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension but clear differentiation between its various subtypes can be a clinical challenge. We report the case of a 37-year-old African-American woman with refractory hypertension who was admitted to our hospital for palpitations, shortness of breath and headache. Her laboratory results showed hypokalaemia and an elevated aldosterone/renin ratio. An abdominal CT scan showed a nodule in the left adrenal gland but adrenal venous sampling showed elevated aldosterone/renin ratio from the right adrenal vein. The patient began a new medical regimen but declined any surgical options. We recommend clinicians to maintain a high level of suspicion to consider the less common subtypes of primary hyperaldosteronism, especially given the fact that the management greatly varies.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Sujit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vakkalanka
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samannodi
mesh_terms: D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000150:complications*; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed