PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM

The mineralocorticoid-excess state caused by primary aldosteronism usu ally causes hypokalemia and moderate to severe hypertension. A directe d approach to the patient with suspected primary aldosteronism is esse ntial. Appropriate use of biochemical and diagnostic imaging studies c an identify the etiology of the primary aldosteronism in an efficient and noninvasive way in most cases. Precision in defining the etiology of the mineralocorticoid-excess state logically leads to therapeutic s trategies that usually cure or improve the hypertensive state.