Jt. Li et al., ALDOSTERONE-SECRETING ADRENAL-CORTICAL ADENOMA IN AN 11-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND COLLECTIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE, European journal of pediatrics, 153(7), 1994, pp. 480-482
We report a rare case of primary hyperaldosteronism in an 11-year-old
female patient due to a unilateral adrenal cortical adenoma. The patie
nt presented with hypertension, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis a
ssociated with inappropriate kaliuresis. The diagnosis was supported b
y the following laboratory findings: elevated plasma aldosterone, supp
ressed plasma renin activity, nonsuppressible aldosterone secretion fo
llowing saline infusion and absent plasma aldosterone response to ambu
lation. MRI revealed a 1 cm diameter adrenal tumour on the left side.
Even though the NP-59 scintigraphy gave a negative result, laparotomy
with left adrenalectomy was performed. Pathological examination confir
med an adenoma in the adrenal cortex. The patient's blood pressure and
biochemical laboratory data normalized postoperatively within 2 days.
We recommend that in hypertensive children with hypokalaemia and meta
bolic alkalosis, primary aldosteronism should be considered.