ALDOSTERONE-SECRETING ADRENAL-CORTICAL ADENOMA IN AN 11-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND COLLECTIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

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.