Overview

Primary aldosteronism (al-DOS-tuh-ro-niz-um) is a type of hormonal disorder that leads to high blood pressure. Your adrenal glands produce a number of essential hormones. One of these is aldosterone, which balances sodium and potassium in your blood.

In primary aldosteronism, your adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone, causing you to lose potassium and retain sodium. The excess sodium in turn holds on to water, increasing your blood volume and blood pressure.

Diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism are important because people with this form of high blood pressure have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Also, the high blood pressure associated with primary aldosteronism may be curable.

Options for people with primary aldosteronism include medications, lifestyle modifications and surgery.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

The main signs of primary aldosteronism are:

• Moderate to severe high blood pressure
• High blood pressure that takes several medications to control (resistant hypertension)
• High blood pressure along with a low potassium level (hypokalemia)

When to see a doctor

Have your blood pressure checked regularly, especially if you have risk factors for high blood pressure. Ask your doctor about the possibility of having primary aldosteronism if:

• You're age 45 or older
• You have a family history of high blood pressure
• You have high blood pressure that began at age 44 or younger
• You're overweight
• You have a sedentary lifestyle
• You use tobacco
• You drink a lot of alcohol
• You have dietary imbalances (too much salt, not enough potassium)

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

Common conditions causing the overproduction of aldosterone include:

• A benign growth in an adrenal gland (aldosterone-producing adenoma) — a condition also known as Conn's syndrome
• Overactivity of both adrenal glands (idiopathic hyperaldosteronism)

In rare cases, primary aldosteronism may be caused by:

• A cancerous (malignant) growth of the outer layer (cortex) of the adrenal gland (adrenal cortical carcinoma)
• A rare type of primary aldosteronism called glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism that runs in families and causes high blood pressure in children and young adults

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

A variety of tests are available to help diagnose primary aldosteronism.

Screening test

Initially, your doctor is likely to measure the levels of aldosterone and renin in your blood. Renin is an enzyme released by your kidneys that helps regulate blood pressure. The combination of a very low renin level with a high aldosterone level suggests that primary aldosteronism may be the cause of your high blood pressure.

Confirmation tests

If the aldosterone-renin test suggests that you might have primary aldosteronism, you'll need another test to confirm the diagnosis, such as one of the following:

• Oral salt loading. You'll follow a high-sodium diet for three days before your doctor measures aldosterone and sodium levels in your urine.
• Saline infusion test. Your aldosterone levels are tested after sodium mixed with water (saline) is infused into your bloodstream for several hours.
• Fludrocortisone suppression test. After you've followed a high-sodium diet and taken fludrocortisone — which mimics the action of aldosterone — for several days, aldosterone levels in your blood are measured.

Additional tests

If you receive a diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, your doctor will run additional tests to determine whether the underlying cause is an aldosterone-producing adenoma or overactivity of both adrenal glands. Tests may include:

• Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan can help identify a tumor on your adrenal gland or an enlargement that suggests overactivity. You may still need additional testing after a CT scan because this imaging test may miss small but important abnormalities or find tumors that don't produce aldosterone.

• Adrenal vein sampling. A radiologist draws blood from both your right and left adrenal veins and compares the two samples. Aldosterone levels that are significantly higher on one side indicate the presence of an aldosteronoma on that side. Similar aldosterone levels on both sides point to overactivity in both glands.

  This test involves placing a tube in a vein in your groin and threading it up to the adrenal veins. Though essential for determining the appropriate treatment, this test carries the risk of bleeding or a blood clot in the vein.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

Primary aldosteronism can lead to high blood pressure and low potassium levels. These complications in turn can lead to other problems.

Problems related to high blood pressure

Persistently elevated blood pressure can lead to problems with your heart and kidneys, including:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Left ventricular hypertrophy — enlargement of the muscle that makes up the wall of the left ventricle, one of your heart's pumping chambers
• Stroke
• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Premature death

High blood pressure caused by primary aldosteronism carries a higher risk of cardiovascular complications than do other types of high blood pressure. This excess risk is due to the high aldosterone levels, which can cause heart and blood vessel damage independent of complications related to high blood pressure.

Problems related to low potassium levels

Some, but not all, people with primary aldosteronism have low potassium levels (hypokalemia). Mild hypokalemia may not cause any symptoms, but very low levels of potassium can lead to:

• Weakness
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Muscle cramps
• Excess thirst or urination

Lifestyle and home remedies

A healthy lifestyle is essential for keeping blood pressure low and maintaining long-term heart health. Here are some healthy lifestyle suggestions:

• Follow a healthy diet. Limit the sodium in your diet by focusing on fresh foods and reduced-sodium products, avoiding condiments, and removing salt from recipes. Diets that also emphasize a healthy variety of foods — including grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products — can promote weight loss and help lower blood pressure. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet — it has proven benefits for your heart.
• Achieve a healthy weight. If your body mass index (BMI) is 25 or more, losing as few as 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) may reduce your blood pressure.
• Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise can help lower blood pressure. You don't have to hit the gym — taking vigorous walks most days of the week can significantly improve your health. Try walking with a friend at lunch instead of dining out.
• Don't smoke. Quitting smoking will improve your overall cardiovascular health. Nicotine in tobacco makes your heart work harder by constricting your blood vessels and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about medications that can help you stop smoking.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine. Both substances can raise your blood pressure, and alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of some blood pressure medications. Ask your doctor whether moderate alcohol consumption is safe for you.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com