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[Primary hypoaldosteronism, pseudo-hypoaldosteronism and distal tubular acidosis].

Aldosterone deficiency is caused by various defects of aldosterone biosynthesis in the adrenal gland or hyporeninism. The most important symptoms are hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. These electrolyte disturbances are also found in pseudohypoaldosteronism. Pseudohypoaldosteronism type I is characterized by insensitivity of the distal nephron for aldosterone. Hyperabsorption of chloride in the distal nephron leads to pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, which is linked with hypertension, whereas blood pressure in the other mentioned disorders is decreased. Renal tubular acidosis, mainly type 4, with impaired production of ammonia due to hyperkalemia, is frequently observed in hypoaldosteronism and both types of pseudohypoaldosteronism as well. The therapeutic regimen is different: low doses of fludrocortisone in hypoaldosteronism, potassium restriction, sodium bicarbonate and loop diuretics in type I of pseudohypoaldosteronism, and sodium restriction and chloruretic diuretics (thiazide) in type II of pseudohypoaldosteronism. In some cases hyperkalemia requires the use of potassium-binding resins.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗

[Primary hypoaldosteronism and secondary pseudo-hypoaldosteronism].

We observed a 23-year-old man with pronounced hyperkalemia (max. 6.8 mmol/l) and hyponatremia (min. 112 mmol/l), which had been existent for 3 years without complaint except a transitory psychorganic syndrome due to hyponatremia. Physical examination showed no abnormality except hypotension (blood pressure 100/70 mmHg). Renal function tests were normal. Fractional clearance of sodium was significantly increased (0.8%), whereas that of potassium was decreased (2.4%). Plasma renin activity was tripled and rose after furosemide. Plasma aldosterone was lowered and showed no rise after furosemide. Suppression of plasma renin and aldosterone by saline infusion was normal. Pressor dose of angiotensin II was increased (17,9 ng AT II/kg/min). Urinary excretion of aldosterone and its conjugates was below normal, and aldosterone precursors were within normal range. The findings were interpreted as selective primary hypoaldosteronism caused by corticosterone methyl oxidase defect type II. However, neither fludrocortisone (0.5 mg/day) nor sodium chloride (200 mmol/day) led to a normalization of sodium and potassium in plasma. Additional pseudohypoaldosteronism was thus assumed. Aldosterone infusion (3 mg in 1 h) decreased renal excretion of sodium; potassium excretion failed, however, to increase in contrast to its pattern in normal man. These findings resemble additional pseudohypo-aldosteronism of type II. After 8 weeks' application of additional 80 mmol sodium (as sodium bicarbonate) plasma sodium and potassium showed normal values under combined treatment with fludrocortisone (0.1 mg/day) and sodium bicarbonate (80 mmol/day). It is to be assumed that the patient suffers from a reduced aldosterone biosynthesis in the presence of an additional transitory secondary pseudohypoaldosteronism.

Adult↗

Plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone responses to angiotensin II and corticotropin in diabetic patients with hyporeninemic and normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism.

To examine the nature of adrenal abnormalities in diabetic patients with hyporeninemic and normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism, responses of plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone and plasma aldosterone to angiotension II infusions and ACTH injection were investigated in 8 diabetic patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and 9 diabetic patients with normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism compared to 11 control subjects. In both the patients with hyporeninemic and normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism, plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone and plasma aldosterone were low, whereas plasma cortisol and plasma corticosterone were within normal ranges. Percent increments of plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone and plasma aldosterone above their baseline levels after angiotensin II infusions were low or somewhat low in the patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and low in the patients with normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism. Percent increments of plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone and plasma aldosterone above their baseline levels after ACTH injection were similar in three groups. These results suggest that in diabetic patients with isolated hypoaldosteronism, the adrenal abnormality, regardless of whether it is primary or secondary, is mainly due to impaired adrenal responsiveness to angiotension II and atrophy and the zona glomerulosa.

18-Hydroxycorticosterone↗

Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide on potassium-stimulated aldosterone secretion: potential relevance to hypoaldosteronism in man.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been shown to suppress aldosterone secretion under certain circumstances, although the physiological significance of this is uncertain. We wondered if ANP would suppress potassium-stimulated aldosterone secretion in man and, if so, whether we might find high circulating levels of ANP in patients with the syndrome of acquired hypoaldosteronism. We studied seven healthy young subjects under two conditions: 1) infusion of KCl (0.5 mmol/kg) over 45 min, and 2) KCl infused with ANP (0.01 microgram/kg.min) for 60 min. We also evaluated ANP levels in eight elderly subjects with the syndrome of acquired hypoaldosteronism, as defined by hyperkalemia (mean serum K+, 5.3 +/- 0.1 mmol/L) associated with inappropriately low aldosterone levels (216 +/- 50 pmol/L). In the normal subjects, ANP almost completely suppressed the aldosterone response to KCl infusion (P less than 0.001, by analysis of variance) despite a similar rise in the serum potassium level with KCl alone (0.70 +/- 0.07 mmol/L) and KCl plus ANP (0.75 +/- 0.09 mmol/L). PRA fell slightly during KCl plus ANP treatment, but did not change during the infusion of KCl alone. ANP levels were approximately 800 pmol/L during the ANP infusion studies. Endogenous ANP levels in the hyperkalemic patients with hypoaldosteronism were markedly elevated at 1186 +/- 340 pmol/L (compared to 93 +/- 10 pmol/L in healthy elderly controls), a level that would be capable of suppressing the potassium-mediated aldosterone response. Exogenous infusion of ANP suppressed the aldosterone response to hyperkalemia, and ANP levels were found to be markedly elevated in a group of patients with hyperkalemia and hypoaldosteronism. We suggest that ANP may contribute to clinically significant hypoaldosteronism and hyperkalemia in the syndrome of acquired hypoaldosteronism.

Adult↗

Diagnostic value of plasma aldosterone/potassium ratio in hypoaldosteronism.

The diagnosis of hypoaldosteronism usually depends upon a combination of abnormal clinical and laboratory findings. The most common abnormality in hypoaldosteronism is hyperkalemia, which may be combined with sodium depletion. In the present study, 5 of 16 patients diagnosed with isolated hypoaldosteronism (IHA) had sodium depletion due to renal salt wasting, and four patients had normokalemia. Of these 16 IHA patients, 70% had subnormal baseline and stimulated plasma renin activity (PRA). Six patients diagnosed with type I pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) had normal or high PRA and plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC). In 11 control subjects, supine PAC correlated positively with serum potassium (SK), and PAC stimulated by furosemide and ambulation correlated with the 24-hour urinary potassium excretion (UK). However, these correlations were not found in IHA and PHA patients. The ratio of UK/UNa+K and UNa/UK correlated with the stimulated PAC when the IHA and control subjects were taken as a whole. However, these electrolyte excretion parameters bore no relationship to the supine PAC. The stimulated PAC/SK ratio was used to discriminate the three groups; all IHA patients had a ratio below 3. The results indicate that stimulated PAC reflects the bioactivity of aldosterone on the collecting tubule, and the stimulated PAC/SK ratio is useful for the diagnosis of hypoaldosteronism and pseudohypoaldosteronism.

Adult↗

Angiotensin II effect on plasma steroids in selective hypoaldosteronism.

The effect of angiotensin II infusion on plasma pregnenolone, progesterone, corticosterone and aldosterone was investigated in 4 cases of established hypoaldosteronism, in 4 elderly controls in the same age range and in 6 young normals. In young and old normals, angiotensin II induced the expected dose response increase in aldosterone while corticosterone usually decreased progressively during the infusion. Progesterone levels were not significantly different in young and old subjects and no change was observed during angiotensin II infusion. Baseline pregnenolone levels were significantly lower in elderly controls and angiotensin II elicited a slight decrease in pregnenolone in the two control groups. In selective hypoaldosteronism, baseline plasma aldosterone concentrations were very low and the aldosterone response to angiotensin II was blunted. Plasma corticosterone and progesterone levels were in a comparable range to normals throughout the study. Contrary to control subjects, a dose dependent increase in pregnenolone was observed during angiotensin II infusion in the patient group. These results suggest that the anomalies of steroid biosynthesis found in selective hypoaldosteronism could be contributing factors to the hypoaldosteronism in some patients.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

Evidence of prostacyclin deficiency in the syndrome of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism.

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism is an important cause of hyperkalemia and is characterized by low renin secretion. We found that prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator and renin secretagogue, was markedly reduced--as reflected by its stable urinary metabolite 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha--in seven patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism as compared with seven matched controls with renal insufficiency and as compared with 12 normal volunteers (mean +/- SE, 42 +/- 7 vs. 185 +/- 37 and 164 +/- 20 ng per gram of creatinine, respectively; P less than 0.001). In contrast, renal prostaglandin E2 excretion was similar in all three groups. A low-dose infusion of calcium or norepinephrine (known stimulants of prostacyclin) increased renal prostacyclin release in normal subjects and controls with renal insufficiency. Neither agonist, however, increased the low basal prostacyclin excretion in the patients (49.6 +/- 11 [basal] vs. 62 +/- 20 [norepinephrine] and 47.5 +/- 16 [calcium]; P greater than 0.8). To evaluate the functional importance of the altered prostacyclin production, we studied the responses of renal blood flow and blood pressure to the calcium infusion. The calcium infusion did not alter blood pressure or renal blood flow in the normal subjects or the controls with renal insufficiency. In contrast, the same dose of calcium in the patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism produced a rise in mean blood pressure (from 91 +/- 6 to 104 +/- 8 mm Hg, P less than 0.05) and a fall in renal blood flow (from 673 +/- 58 to 560 +/- 42 ml per minute per 1.73 m2, P less than 0.05). These results indicate that a deficiency of prostacyclin could explain the low active-renin concentration and altered vasomotor tone seen in hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism: a possible etiological factor of septic shock-induced acute renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism has been described in critically ill patients. The present study investigated the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in septic shock patients and its relationship with clinical course. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective descriptive study in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-six consecutive patients with septic shock as defined by the ACCP/SCCM criteria. INTERVENTION: A corticotropin stimulation test, followed by treatment with low doses of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Plasma renin activity, PAC, and cortisol levels were measured before and after the test. PAC measurements were repeated for 1 week. Relevant clinical and laboratory variables were recorded for ICU stay. Patients were divided into two groups according to PAC/renin activity ratio: above 2 (n=24 patients) and below 2 n=22). Patients with PAC/renin activity less than 2 had higher total volume of infused fluid, serum creatinine level, and fractional excretion of sodium values; aldosterone and serum creatinine were negatively correlated. Hypoaldosteronism was reversible within 1 week. Duration of ICU stay (p=0.0026) and the need for renal replacement therapy (p=0.0021) were greater in the group with PAC/renin less than 2. CONCLUSIONS: Transient hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism is common in patients with septic shock. These abnormal aldosterone levels are associated with greater sodium and fluid depletion and are followed by enhanced incidence of acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy and prolonged length of stay in ICU.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Hyper- and hypoaldosteronism.

Aldosterone participates in blood volume and serum potassium homeostasis, which in turn regulate aldosterone secretion by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex. Autonomous aldosterone hypersecretion leads to hypertension and hypokalemia. Improved screening techniques have led to a re-evaluation of the frequency of primary aldosteronism among adults with hypertension, recognizing that normokalemic cases are more frequent than was previously appreciated. The genetic basis of glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism has been elucidated and adequately explains most of the pathophysiologic features of this disorder. A new form of familial aldosteronism has been described, familial hyperaldosteronism type II; linkage analysis and direct mutation screening has shown that this disorder is unrelated to mutations in the genes for aldosterone synthase or the angiotensin II receptor. The features of aldosterone hypersecretion may be due to non-aldosterone-mediated mineralocorticoid excess. These include two causes of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency and 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency), the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) due to 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) deficiency, primary glucocorticoid resistance, Liddle's syndrome due to activating mutations of the renal epithelial sodium channel, and exogenous sources of mineralocorticoid, such as licorice, or drugs, such as carbenoxolone. The features of mineralocorticoid excess are also often seen in Cushing's syndrome. Hypoaldosteronism may lead to hypotension and hyperkalemia. Hypoaldosteronism may be due to inadequate stimulation of aldosterone secretion (hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism), defects in adrenal synthesis of aldosterone, or resistance to the ion transport effects of aldosterone, such as are seen in pseudohypoaldosteronism type I (PHA I). PHA I is frequently due to mutations involving the amiloride sensitive epithelial sodium channel. Gordon's syndrome (PHA type II) is due to resistance to the kaliuretic but not sodium reabsorptive effects of aldosterone for which the genetic basis is still unknown. This review aims to provide a survey of the clinical disorders of aldosterone excess and deficiency and their clinical management, with a focus on primary aldosteronism and isolated aldosterone deficiency.

Adolescent↗

Congenital hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism in Israel: sequence analysis of CYP11B2 gene.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Isolated aldosterone biosynthesis defect causing congenital hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism with otherwise normal adrenal function usually results from aldosterone synthase deficiency. Patients present with manifestations of mineralocorticoid deficiency during the first weeks of life. The largest numbers of cases have been described in Iranian Jews, who carried concomitantly two homozygous missense mutations (R181W and V386A). In a few cases with presumed aldosterone synthase deficiency no mutations in CYP11B2 gene have been identified. We describe a molecular and endocrine evaluation of seven cases of congenital hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism in Israel. PATIENTS/METHODS: Two of the six Jewish patients are of Iranian origin. The parents of five other patients originated from Yemen, Syria and Morocco. One patient is a Muslim-Arab. CYP11B2's exons, exon-intron boundaries and promoter region were sequenced by multiple PCR amplifications. Gene size determination was performed either by long-range PCR or by Southern blot analysis. RESULTS: Only two patients (Iranian Jews) carried a known homozygous R181W, V386A mutations, other two were compound heterozygotes for either the R181W or V386A and one additional novel amino acid substitution (A319V or D335G), and one patient was found to be a carrier of the two novel variations (A319V and D335G). We could not find a molecular defect in 2 patients: one was a carrier of the D335G mutation and the other had no detectable molecular change in the coding and promoter regions. CONCLUSION: The genetic and molecular basis of congenital hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism is more heterogeneous than previously described. The significance of amino acid substitutions identified in this study remains to be determined.

Cooperative Behavior↗

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism in diabetic patients with chronic renal failure.

Plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone levels and renal tubular capacity to excrete hydrogen ions were studied in 13 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus with a creatinine clearance of less than 40 ml/min. The results were compared with those obtained in a control group, in a group of nondiabetic subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF) and in a group of diabetic patients without CRF. Twelve of the thirteen diabetic patients with CRF had data characteristic of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism associated with type IV renal tubular acidosis. On comparing the results with those of the other two groups of patients, it was observed that the manifestations of the latter two groups considered separately were different from those of the problem group, although in the diabetic patients with normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) hyporeninism but not hypoaldosteronism was present accompanied by a lower net acid excretion (p less than 0.001) due to a lower excretion of NH4 (p less than 0.05) and titratable acid (p less than 0.001) when the patients were challenged with an NH4Cl overload. We believe that a conjunction of diabetes and renal failure is necessary for the diabetic patients with a decrease in GFR to show hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and type IV tubular acidosis.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗

Angiotensin II receptor and postreceptor events in adrenal glomerulosa cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with hypoaldosteronism.

Streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rats develop hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism. The hypoaldosteronism is associated with selective unresponsiveness of aldosterone to angiotensin II (AII) and an atrophy of the zona glomerulosa. To assess the nature of the adrenal unresponsiveness to AII, we examined the [125I]monoiodoAII binding and the responses of pregnenolone formation and aldosterone production to AII using adrenal glomerulosa cells from diabetic rats 6 weeks after an injection of streptozotocin. Comparisons were made using the cells from control rats treated with vehicle. Diabetic rats had low levels of plasma renin activity, plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and plasma aldosterone, and normal levels of plasma corticosterone and plasma potassium. The zona glomerulosa width was narrower in diabetic than in control rats. Scatchard analysis of the AII binding data demonstrated that the number and affinity of the receptors were similar in the cells from control and diabetic rats. When corrected to an uniform number of cells per group, baseline levels of pregnenolone formation and aldosterone production were similar in the cells from control and diabetic rats. However, cells from diabetic rats had a less sensitive and lower response of both pregnenolone formation and aldosterone production to AII. In contrast, the effect of ACTH on pregnenolone formation and aldosterone production was similar in the cells from control and diabetic rats. These results indicate that the main defect responsible for the hypoaldosteronism may be located on some step(s) mediating between AII receptors and conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, presumably on the calcium messenger system, with a disturbance downstream from AII binding.

Aldosterone↗

Congenital hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism unlinked to the aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene.

Isolated hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism presenting in infancy is usually caused by mutations in the CYP11B2 gene encoding aldosterone synthase. We studied five patients in four unrelated kindreds with hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism, in whom we were unable to find such mutations. All presented in infancy with failure to thrive, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, markedly elevated plasma renin activity, and low or inappropriately normal aldosterone levels. All had normal cortisol levels and no signs or symptoms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. All responded to fludrocortisone treatment. There were no mutations detected in exons or splice junctions of CYP11B2. Linkage of the disorder to CYP11B2 was studied in two unrelated consanguineous patients and in an affected sib pair. The consanguineous patients were each heterozygous for at least one of three polymorphic microsatellite markers near CYP11B2, excluding linkage to CYP11B2. However, linkage of the disease to CYP11B2 could not be excluded in the affected sib pair. Genes involved in the regulation of aldosterone biosynthesis, including those encoding angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and the AT1 angiotensin II receptor were similarly excluded from linkage. These results demonstrate the existence of an inherited form of hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism distinct from aldosterone synthase deficiency. The affected gene(s) remain to be determined.

Adult↗

Mechanisms of hyperkalemia associated with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This study was aimed at investigating the mechanisms of clinically important overt hyperkalemia in diabetes mellitus with underlying hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism known as a classic model of the syndrome of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism (SHH). Rats (Sprague-Dawley, male) were streptozotocin-treated (60 mg/kg, ip) and used after 60 days. Rats with plasma glucose levels higher than 300 mg/dL (mean +/- SEM, 423 +/- 20 mg/dL, n = 8) were selected as the diabetic group. Age-matched normal rats served as control (mean plasma glucose, 88 +/- 2, mg/dL, n = 8). Serum potassium concentrations and osmolalities as well as serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in the diabetic than in the control group (5.07 +/- 0.09 vs. 4.68 +/- 0.11 mEq/L; 330 +/- 14 vs 290 +/- 3 mOsm/L; 0.40 +/- 0.03 vs 0.31 +/- 0.02 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma renin activity (PRA) in the diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the control group (6.0 +/- 1.0 vs 12.1 +/- 1.1 ng Al/ml/h, p < 0.001). Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was also significantly lower in the former than in the latter (368 +/- 30 vs 761 +/- 57 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Renomegaly, abnormal distal tubular cells with few organelles, and increased lipid droplets with pyknotic nucleus in zona glomerulosa of the adrenal glands were noted in the diabetic group. In conclusion, multifactorial causes including insulinopenia, hyperosmolality, elevated serum creatinine level and hypoaldosteronism with possible contribution of altered distal tubular response to aldosterone may have interacted to develop hyperkalemia in these diabetic rats.

Animals↗

Up-regulation of the adrenomedullin system mediates hypotension and hypoaldosteronism induced by simulated microgravity.

We recently demonstrated that prolonged simulated microgravity (SMG) induced hypotension and hypoaldosteronism in rats, and gathered preliminary evidence for an involvement of circulating adrenomedullin (AM). Thus, we aimed to investigate whether short-term SMG elicits the same effects, and whether up-regulation of adrenal AM system plays a relevant role. Rats were exposed for 8 days to SMG in the form of hindlimb unweighting, and then, along with control animals, were given an intraperitoneal injection of AM22-52 and/or angiotensin-II (Ang-II) (100 nmoles/kg) or the saline vehicle. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail-cuff sphygmomanometry. The adrenal expression of AM was assayed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The plasma concentrations of aldosterone (PAC) and AM, and adrenal AM content were measured by RIA. Short-term SMG induced significant decreases in SBP and PAC. Conversely, both the plasma and adrenal levels of AM, and adrenal AM mRNA were enhanced in SMG-exposed animals. The SMG-induced hypotension and hypoaldosteronism were reversed by AM22-52, an AM-receptor antagonist, thereby demonstrating a causal link between these effects and the up-regulation of AM system. SMG hampered SBP and PAC responses to Ang-II; the co-administration of AM22-52 restored these responses. These findings accord well with the known ability of AM to counteract the effects of Ang-II on both blood vessels and adrenocortical cells. Taken together, our findings allow us to conclude that up-regulation of the adrenal AM system i) occurs early and takes part in the adaptative changes occurring during SMG conditions; and ii) may account for both hypotension and hypoaldosteronism on returning to the normogravitational environment.

Adrenomedullin↗

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism associated with multiple myeloma: 11 years of follow-up.

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism is an important underlying condition, causing hyperkalemia with hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, disproportionate to the degree of renal insufficiency present. The principal defect in this syndrome is a reduced level of plasma renin activity, which results in secondary hypoaldosteronism. Diabetes mellitus is usually the primary underlying renal disease, though other causes of renal diseases associated with this syndrome have been described. This case report describes for the first time an elderly patient with multiple myeloma, in remission for more than 11 years, associated with the syndrome of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism at the time of diagnosis. The complete resolution of the syndrome after vigorous chemotherapy is an intriguing possibility.

Aged↗

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism--case report and observation of dissociated renin and erythropoietin activity.

A case is reported of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, diagnosed during an evaluation of hyperkalemia. Urine and plasma aldosterone concentrations were depressed despite hyperkalemia and were not responsive to ACTH, cosyntropin, and angiotensin 2. Adrenal glucocorticoid function was normal. Plasma renin activity also was low, and was hyporesponsive to stimulation, including intravascular volume contraction and potassium depletion. Autonomic nervous function was intact. Of the 32 previously reported cases of selective hypoaldosteronism, plasma renin activity was low in the majority of cases in which it was measured. A classification of the types of selective hypoaldosteronism is presented. It is of interest that the serum erythropoietin activity in this case was increased while plasma renin activity was markedly depressed.

Aged↗