Pseudohyperaldosteronism
Encyclopedia
Pseudohyperaldosteronism (also pseudoaldosteronism) is a medical condition that mimics hyperaldosteronism
Hyperaldosteronism
Hyperaldosteronism, also aldosteronism, is a medical condition where too much aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands, which can lead to lowered levels of potassium in the blood.-Types:...

. Like hyperaldosteronism, it produces hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...

 associated with low plasma renin
Renin
Renin , also known as an angiotensinogenase, is an enzyme that participates in the body's renin-angiotensin system -- also known as the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Axis -- that mediates extracellular volume , and arterial vasoconstriction...

 activity, and metabolic alkalosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Metabolic alkalosis is a metabolic condition in which the pH of tissue is elevated beyond the normal range . This is the result of decreased hydrogen ion concentration, leading to increased bicarbonate, or alternatively a direct result of increased bicarbonate concentrations.-Terminology:*Alkalosis...

 associated with hypokalemia
Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia or hypokalaemia , also hypopotassemia or hypopotassaemia , refers to the condition in which the concentration of potassium in the blood is low...

. Unlike hyperaldosteronism, it involves aldosterone
Aldosterone
Aldosterone is a hormone that increases the reabsorption of sodium ions and water and the release of potassium in the collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubule of the kidneys' functional unit, the nephron. This increases blood volume and, therefore, increases blood pressure. Drugs that...

 levels that are normal or low (hypoaldosteronism
Hypoaldosteronism
In medicine , hypoaldosteronism refers to decreased levels of the hormone aldosterone.The term "isolated hypoaldosteronism" is used to describe lowered aldosterone without corresponding changes in cortisol...

).

Causes

This condition has several known causes, dietary and genetic. Dietary causes include the chronic excessive ingestion of licorice. Licorice inhibits the 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (Protein:HSD11B2
Protein:HSD11B2
Corticosteroid 11-β-dehydrogenase isozyme 2 also known as 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the HSD11B2 gene.- Function :...

) enzyme resulting in inappropriate stimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor
Mineralocorticoid receptor
The mineralocorticoid receptor , also known as the aldosterone receptor or nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 2, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NR3C2 gene that is located on chromosome 4q31.1-31.2.MR is a receptor with high affinity for mineralocorticoids...

 by cortisol.

Genetic causes include Liddle's syndrome
Liddle's Syndrome
Liddle's syndrome, also called Liddle syndrome and pseudoaldosteronism, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by early, and frequently severe, hypertension associated with low plasma renin activity, metabolic alkalosis due to hypokalemia, and hypoaldosteronism...

.

Presentation

This condition is characterized by hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...

, kaliuresis
Kaliuresis
Kaliuresis is the process of excreting potassium in the urine.Thiazide diuretics are used to treat patients with heart failure. Their goal is to decrease the amount of salt in the body by decreasing the amount that the kidney reabsorbs...

 and reduced plasma renin
Renin
Renin , also known as an angiotensinogenase, is an enzyme that participates in the body's renin-angiotensin system -- also known as the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Axis -- that mediates extracellular volume , and arterial vasoconstriction...

.
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