A case report of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism characterized by bilateral adrenal adenoma

Primary aldosteronism (PA) comprises 2 main subtypes: unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism or named as bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). An accurate discrimination between APA and BAH is crucial because the former is treated with adrenalectomy (ADX) and the latter is primarily by aldosterone antagonists. We report a case of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism characterized by BAH.

A 46-year-old woman had experienced a paroxysmal elevation of blood pressure for the past 2 months, along with an intermittent headache and mild occipital swelling and pain.

We performed clinical, laboratory, and imaging tests, as well as bilateral adrenal vein sampling (AVS) on this patient. Specifically, computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging were used to characterize the properties of bilateral adrenal adenoma. Additionally, bilateral AVS was performed to distinguish unilateral from bilateral adrenal abnormality in this patient.

After oral administration of aldosterone antagonists, her blood pressure and potassium levels returned to normal ranges and her condition improved.

Following differential diagnosis, screening, functional tests, a variety of imaging studies, and bilateral adrenal vein sampling (AVS) typing, she was finally diagnosed with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.

For PA patients with lack of typical hypertension and hypokalemia performance, early identification and accurate diagnosis are of great significance for improving the prognosis of BAH. AVS plays an important role in the classification of PA subtype, especially for the cases with bilateral lesions. In regard to patients with rare bilateral adrenocortical adenoma-type aldosteronism, AVS plays a key role in choosing the appropriate treatment regimen.