The difficulties in differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism subtypes in women with strokes at a young age

In patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), it is fundamental to distinguish between subtypes that benefit from different treatment. The authors describe difficulties in differential diagnosis in a case of 46 year old women with PA and two strokes in the past. Based on high plasma and urine aldosterone concentration, low plasma renin activity (PRA), very high aldosterone/PRA ratio and unilateral macroadenoma detected in computed tomography, aldosterone producing adenoma was diagnosed and the patient was performed unilateral adrenalectomy. Despite the surgical treatment the patient still presented with clinical and biochemical PA symptoms. Moreover, histological examination suggested adrenal hyperplasia, and laboratory tests were typical for glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism. Unfortunately, we didn't find a chimeric CYP 11/beta 1/CYP 11 beta 2 gene. Finally, bilateral adrenal hyperplasia was diagnosed and medical treatment with aldosterone antagonist was initiated. (Pol J Endocrinol 2009; 60 (6): 492-496)