Normotensive presentation in primary aldosteronism: A report of two cases

Abstract

Normotensive patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) are relatively rare. Herein, we report two patients with normotensive PA and present a literature review to improve an understanding of the disease. Patient 1, a 56-year-old man, presented with recurrent hypokalemia that lasted for more than 2 years. Patient 2 was a 33-year-old man who presented with sexual dysfunction and was diagnosed with a prolactinoma combined with adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadism. Neither of these patients had hypertension that was detectable on repeated manual measurements. In both patients, a typical biological profile of PA was demonstrated that included hypokalemia with kaliuresis, elevated plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), suppressed plasma renin concentration, and a high aldosterone-to-renin ratio. Both patients did not have sufficiently suppressed PAC on the saline infusion test, confirming the diagnosis of PA. Computed tomography of the adrenal gland and adrenal venous sampling suggested an aldosteronoma, which was confirmed by lateralized hypersecretion of aldosterone. After removal of the benign adenoma, the biochemical abnormalities were corrected. As hypertension is not necessarily a sign of PA, we propose that all patients with hypokalemia should be screened for PA in order to prevent cardiovascular complications while balancing economics and effectiveness.