Hypoaldosteronism - Adrenal Gland Diseases - Endocrinology - Diseases - McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Hypoaldosteronism is defined as insufficient secretion or ineffective action of aldosterone. It can be caused by defective stimulation of aldosterone secretion, primary defects in adrenal synthesis or secretion of aldosterone, and aldosterone resistance or blockade. The major clinical manifestations are hyperkalemia and mild hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. When hyponatremia is present, primary adrenal insufficiency should be suspected. Most frequent causes include: 1) Primary aldosterone deficiency, due to decreased synthesis or release of aldosterone from the adrenal gland, should be suspected in persons who have hyperkalemia despite normal renal function and lack of potassium supplementation or treatment with potassium-sparing diuretics; this may be caused by primary adrenal insufficiency, classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (leading to hypersecretion of adrenal androgens with reduced production of cortisol and aldosterone), severe illness, transient hypoaldosteronism following surg

Hypoaldosteronism is defined as insufficient secretion or ineffective action of aldosterone. It can be caused by defective stimulation of aldosterone secretion, primary defects in adrenal synthesis or secretion of aldosterone, and aldosterone resistance or blockade. The major clinical manifestations are hyperkalemia and mild hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. When hyponatremia is present, primary adrenal insufficiency should be suspected. Most frequent causes include: 1) Primary aldosterone deficiency, due to decreased synthesis or release of aldosterone from the adrenal gland, should be suspe