[Licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism in a patient with a non-functioning adrenal tumor]

A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with hypertension, hypokalemia, and left adrenal tumor at another hospital, and was referred to our hospital on suspicion of primary aldosteronism. Investigations revealed low plasma aldosterone concentration, and the left adrenal tumor proved to be nonfunctioning, not hyperfunctioning. "Licorice" had been prescribed for the treatment of recurrent cramps in his calf. After stopping the licorice, his condition changed to normokalemia strongly suggesting that his pseudoaldosteronism had been caused by the drug. We reviewed 140 reports on licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism in Japan, and found a second patient who might have suffered a similar coincidental nonfunctioning adrenal tumor.