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C. Schirpenbach, L. Seiler, F. Beuschlein, M. Reincke

Primary aldosteronism: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis / Primärer Hyperaldosteronismus: Diagnose und Differentialdiagnose

Primary aldosteronism, characterized by hypertension and low-to-normal potassium levels, has lately been recognized as a rather frequent cause of secondary hypertension. The two principle reasons for primary aldosteronism are bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and aldosterone-producing adenoma. Screening for primary aldosteronism is performed by measuring the aldosterone/ renin ratio, which has good accuracy even if the patient is under medication. The diagnosis needs to be confirmed by further diagnostic procedures and, since the therapy of the subtypes varies, differential diagnosis is required. Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is treated through medication, whereas hypertension due to adenoma can be cured or improved by adrenalectomy.

LaboratoriumsMedizin, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 0025-8466
Volume: 28, 04/2004
Pages: 135 - 143

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