Myocardial fibrosis and hyperaldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism is one of the few potentially curable forms of hypertension. This article highlights recent advances in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this relatively common secondary form of hypertension. These topics include the recognition that this disorder is more prevalent than previously assumed, the identification of high-risk populations that benefit most from screening, and the improved approaches to screening, diagnosis, localization, and treatment. This review uses illustrative examples to describe our approach to these patients.

Adrenal adenoma presenting with torsade de pointes--a case report

A case of primary hyperaldosteronism due to an adrenal adenoma with near syncope and torsade de pointes is described. A woman patient had a history of high blood pressure and severe hypokalemia that was the cause of her ventricular arrhythmia, which was controlled by administering potassium supplementation but no antiarrhythmic medication. Adrenal adenoma was identified on axial computerized tomography. This case report suggests that there may be a chance of complete cure from torsade de pointes if the underlying cause of QT prolongation can be identified.