Hyperaldosteronism

Hyperaldosteronism is a disease in which the steroid hormone aldosterone is formed in abundance.

It is a primary hyperaldosteronism (also known as Conn's syndrome ) distinction and a secondary form. When Primary hyperaldosteronism is formed by a process in the adrenal cortex too much aldosterone (often an adenoma, a rare (mostly bilateral ) hyperplasia, significantly less other causes such as a carcinoma or genetic defects). Secondary forms have a very different origin and occur at very different frequencies. Here is initiated either due to parent regulation mechanisms an increased aldosterone production or - slows the degradation - as in the case of liver cirrhosis.

Clinically the primary hyperaldosteronism arterial hypertension and hypokalemia, where appropriate, with the secondary form of the edema and ascites in the foreground. Hyperaldosteronism is treated by aldosterone antagonists (eg spironolactone or eplerenone ) or primary form by the surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland ( adrenalectomy ), if an adenoma or carcinoma is detected.

In the context of primary hyperaldosteronism hereditary forms are distinguished, of which the familiar type I is caused by a merger of the CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 genes.