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Posts Tagged ‘Conn’s Syndrome’

How is primary aldosteronism?

While waiting for a specialist assessment may be given tablets of potassium which restores the levels of potassium in the blood. Some patients may see their doctor with dangerously low potassium levels, making treatment with potassium supplements is essential.

The treatment of aldosterone-producing adenoma is unilateral adrenalectomy, ie, surgical removal of the adrenal gland where the tumor. In some centers this procedure can be performed laparoscopically, that is, through a small hole in the skin through which an optical system is introduced. Until the practice of surgery, patients should be controlled by administering a drug called spironolactone, whose fundamental action is to block the action of aldosterone. Read the rest of this entry »

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How do you differentiate the different types of hyperaldosteronism?

The distinction between an aldosterone-producing adenoma and bilateral hyperplasia requires the completion of a series of functional studies with measurements of renin and aldosterone in various circumstances and subjected to different stimuli. These studies should always be performed under the supervision of a specialist in a hospital.

In patients with primary aldosteronism should be also a radiological examination of the adrenal glands. This is usually performed by radiologic imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans can differentiate cases of aldosterone-producing adenoma from bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Sometimes, patients in whom the diagnosis is uncertain despite the biochemical or radiological-may be necessary to obtain blood samples directly from the adrenal glands. Read the rest of this entry »

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What else you can do?

The most frequent cause of increased blood pressure is called essential hypertension and, often, this condition can mimic Conn’s syndrome. That is, patients with essential hypertension may also have low potassium levels in plasma. This is usually due to hypertension often is treated with diuretics, drugs that can cause loss of potassium in the urine.

Furthermore, plasma renin (which, as we saw, is reduced in cases of primary hyperaldosteronism) can be suppressed by the action of some drugs commonly used to treat hypertension, such as beta-blockers adrenergic receptors (also called beta-blockers). This suppression of renin can be induced to think of an erroneous diagnosis of hyperaldosteronism.

There are also some other diseases, all rare, the doctor may need to rule out before the diagnosis of adrenal adenoma or hyperplasia. Read the rest of this entry »

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What are the symptoms of Conn’s syndrome?

The elevation of blood pressure (hypertension) is the most important symptom and sometimes the only one.

Aldosterone acts on the kidney to enhance the retention of salt and water and helps to eliminate potassium. Excess aldosterone in the blood can produce, thus increasing the concentration of sodium in plasma and reduced the concentration of potassium.

The reduction in plasma levels of potassium (hypokalemia hypokalemia or call) is important because it can be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness or increased volume of urination (polyuria), especially at night (nocturia). Read the rest of this entry »

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What is Conn’s syndrome?

Conn’s syndrome, also known as primary aldosteronism is a disease of the adrenal glands where it is produced and released into the blood too much of a hormone called aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone involved in controlling blood pressure and renal water metabolism and salt. Favors the retention of sodium (salt) and thus the accumulation of water in the body. So when in excess, with increased salt and water circulatory system pressure increases.

It is important to know the Conn’s syndrome because the disorder is a potentially curable cause of hypertension (high blood pressure). It is a disease that often goes undiagnosed. Some studies suggest that Conn’s syndrome is rare (only one new case per million population per year), however, when they have carried out more detailed investigations in people with hypertension have shown that even a 15 % of cases are caused by primary hyperaldosteronism. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 36% [?]