A case of functioning parathyroid carcinoma with hypereninemic hypertension

A case of 49-year-old Japanese house wife with a functioning parathyroid carcinoma was reported. Because of lack of bone and renal involvements, she was classified as chemical type of primary hyperparathyroidism. Abnormally high levels of serum calcium and a small palpable tumor on the right anterior neck had suspected a functioning parathyroid carcinoma, which was proved histologically after operation. Preoperatively, she had a labile hypertension (116-190/68-126 mmHg) with high plasma renin activity (PRA; 2.3-8.4 ng/ml/h). The marked responses of PRA to furosemide and captopril were accompanied by inappropriate low response of aldosterone. After removal of the tumor, her blood pressure returned to normal with lowered PRA and normal serum calcium. These observations strongly suggested that her elevated PRA might be a main role to yield hypertension.