[2 cases of primary hyperaldosteronism]

Two clinical cases of women with primary hyperaldosteronism are reported. The patients presented with arterial hypertension, muscular weakness and paresthesia. Severe hypokalemia was found which was resistant to intravenous infusions of potassium but was successfully treated with low daily doses (100-200 mg) of spironolacton, an aldacton antagonist, in the course of 3-4 days. In one of the patients the primary hyperaldosteronism was related to aldosterone secretion by the cells of a malignant corticosteroma, proved histologically. A successful operation led to full recovery of the patient. In the other patient there was an idiopathic form of primary hyper aldosteronism caused by bilateral hyperplasia of the suprarenal cortex. Contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities in primary hyperaldosteronism as well as the importance of the examination of potassium serum level and kaliuria in the patients with arterial hypertension for the timely and successful diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperaldosteronism are pointed out.