Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy accompanied with primary aldosteronism—Case report

Abstract

Key Clinical MessageHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is known to be the most prevalent genetic cardiac condition. However, there have been limited reports on the diagnosis of HCM accompanied by secondary hypertension and the subsequent systematic therapy. In this case report, we present the case of a 65‐year‐old male patient who presented with recurring chest discomfort during physical activity, along with refractory hypertension. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transthoracic echocardiogram(TTE) revealed the presence of HCM in this individual. Further investigation revealed hypokalemia, elevated aldosterone levels, decreased plasma renin activity, and an aldosterone‐to‐renin ratio above 30. These findings strongly indicated primary aldosteronism (PA) as an additional condition affecting this patient. Through the utilization of whole exome sequencing, we successfully identified a suspected pathogenic gene TTN as the underlying cause of the patient's condition. The presence of HCM accompanied by secondary hypertension due to PA resulted in significant enlargement of the left ventricle, particularly the ventricular septum. While certain genetic mutations may suggest a potential link to cardiomyopathy development, they cannot definitively establish a direct association between HCM and PA.