[The role of aldosterone in hypertension]

Hyperaldosteronism is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Using mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists a significant reduction in mortality was archived in patients with heart failure. In addition, in refractory hypertension and in patients with metabolic syndrome aldosterone seems to play an important role. Therapy with mineralocorticoidreceptor (MR) antagonists is feasible when aldosterone levels are elevated, in particular in patients with aldosterone-escape. Of particular interest is primary aldosteronism (PA). PA is one of the major causes of secondary hypertension. Since most patients with PA present with normokalemia screening has to be performed using the aldosterone renin ratio, in particular patients with refractory hypertension, young hypertensive patients and patients with incidentaloma. One has to point out that drugs that interfere with the aldosterone-renin-aldosterone-system need to be discontinued or changed. After successful screening, confirmatory testing (e.g. i.v. salt suppression test) has to follow. In order to differentiate between unilateral and bilateral disease computed tomography and adrenal vein sampling are performed. While unilateral adenomas can be cured surgically, bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is treated with MR-antagonists. In case of positive family history for PA one should consider familiar hyperaldosteronism (FH). Three forms are currently defined--FH type I, type II and type III. A hybrid gene consisting of CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 that produces aldosterone in an ACTH dependant manner can be found in FH type I. Diagnosis is verified by long range PCR. No underlying monogenetic cause for FH II and FH II could be detected so far. Through mechanisms way more than water and salt regulation, hyperaldosteronism can negatively influence cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and should therefore play an important part in diagnosis and therapy of arterial hypertension.