Aldosterone

Primary Aldosteronism

Nathan Hinkle — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

September 9, 2026

Journal/Publication:

JAMA Intern Med

Publisher:

The American Medical Association

Publication Date:

September 8, 2026

Pages:

E1-E2

URL:

Primary Aldosteronism

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

CME Credits:

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.4155

Keywords

primary aldosteronism

MeSH

RPR Commentary: A review of primary aldosteronism, a treatable condition present in approximately 6% in adult primary care patients to 29% of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Primary aldosteronism (PA) is an endocrine disorder that results from aldosterone overproduction by the adrenal glands, independent of physiological stimuli (hyperkalemia or renin). Symptomatic PA can cause hypertension and hypokalemia, but PA exists across a spectrum of severity from subclinical disease to treatment-resistant hypertension and from normokalemia to severe hypokalemia. PA remains underdiagnosed despite the fact that targeted therapies can reduce morbidity and mortality.1,2 This Clinical Insights article provides clinicians with a practical approach to diagnosing and managing PA.

Author/s:

Emily P. Marogi, Lisa Dubrofsky, Robert J. Weber

Screening for primary aldosteronism in primary care

Aubrey Delammermore — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

March 30, 2023

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Publisher:

CMA Impact

Publication Date:

March 20, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

195

Pages:

E410

URL:

Screening for primary aldosteronism in primary care

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1503/cmaj.221466

Keywords

Hypokalemia

Aldosterone

primary aldosteronism

MeSH

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists

Aldosterone

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

A very concise review of the suspicion, detection, and management of hyperaldosteronism in patients with hypertension. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Primary aldosteronism (PA) is common among patients with hypokalemia and hypertension. Patients with PA are at an increased risk of chronic disease if undiagnosed or untreated. Expert consensus recommends screening for PA in high-risk populations. Most antihypertensive medications can be continued during the work-up for PA. An elevated aldosterone-to-renin ratio is suggestive of PA.

Author/s:

Dubrofsky, L., Hundemer, G. L.

The Unrecognized Prevalence of Primary Aldosteronism

John Bayhi — Tue, 26 May 2020 21:01:14 +0000

Date Added:

May 26, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Annals of Internal Medicine

Publisher:

American College of Physicians

Publication Date:

May 26, 2020

Volume:

Online ahead of print

URL:

The Unrecognized Prevalence of Primary Aldosteronism

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.7326/M20-0065

Keywords

primary aldosteronism

hypertension

cardiovascular disease

PMID (1):

32449886

MeSH

Essential Hypertension

Cross-Sectional Studies

prevalence

cardiovascular diseases

Hyperaldosteronism

hypertension

Hypoakalemia

Blood Pressure Determination

Academic Medical Centers

Potassium

Sodium

This study suggests (confirming what Dr. David Kem at OU has long taught) that primary aldosteronism is much more common than generally thought, occurring in as many as 11% of people with normal BP and 22% of those with hard to control HTN. Usual diagnostic tests aren’t very accurate. We should probably be using spironolactone more often. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Background:

Primary aldosteronism is a nonsuppressible renin-independent aldosterone production that causes hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Objective:

To characterize the prevalence of nonsuppressible renin-independent aldosterone production, as well as biochemically overt primary aldosteronism, in relation to blood pressure.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

4 U.S. academic medical centers.

Participants:

Participants with normotension (n = 289), stage 1 hypertension (n = 115), stage 2 hypertension (n = 203), and resistant hypertension (n = 408).

Measurements:

Participants completed an oral sodium suppression test, regardless of aldosterone or renin levels, as a confirmatory diagnostic for primary aldosteronism and to quantify the magnitude of renin-independent aldosterone production. Urinary aldosterone was measured in participants in high sodium balance with suppressed renin activity. Biochemically overt primary aldosteronism was diagnosed when urinary aldosterone levels were higher than 12 µg/24 h.

Results:

Every blood pressure category had a continuum of renin-independent aldosterone production, where greater severity of production was associated with higher blood pressure, kaliuresis, and lower serum potassium levels. Mean adjusted levels of urinary aldosterone were 6.5 µg/24 h (95% CI, 5.2 to 7.7 µg/24 h) in normotension, 7.3 µg/24 h (CI, 5.6 to 8.9 µg/24 h) in stage 1 hypertension, 9.5 µg/24 h (CI, 8.2 to 10.8 µg/24 h) in stage 2 hypertension, and 14.6 µg/24 h (CI, 12.9 to 16.2 µg/24 h) in resistant hypertension; corresponding adjusted prevalence estimates for biochemically overt primary aldosteronism were 11.3% (CI, 5.9% to 16.8%), 15.7% (CI, 8.6% to 22.9%), 21.6% (CI, 16.1% to 27.0%), and 22.0% (CI, 17.2% to 26.8%). The aldosterone–renin ratio had poor sensitivity and negative predictive value for detecting biochemically overt primary aldosteronism.

Limitation:

Prevalence estimates rely on arbitrary and conventional thresholds, and the study population may not represent nationwide demographics.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of primary aldosteronism is high and largely unrecognized. Beyond this categorical definition of primary aldosteronism, there is a prevalent continuum of renin-independent aldosterone production that parallels the severity of hypertension. These findings redefine the primary aldosteronism syndrome and implicate it in the pathogenesis of “essential” hypertension.

Primary Funding Source:

National Institutes of Health.

Author/s:

Brown, JM, Siddiqui, M, Calhoun, DA, Carey, RM, Hopkins, PN, Williams, GH, Vaidya, A