Coincidence of pseudohypoaldosteronism with gluten-enteropathy

This is a 21-month-old boy with pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) in coincidence with celiac disease. The diagnosis of PHA was made on the basis of hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and large urinary salt losses, as well as high renin activity and aldosterone levels and increased urinary plasma aldosterone. Whereas mineralocorticoid therapy was ineffective, salt therapy has proven successful. The patient's HLA type was found to be characteristic of gluten-enteropathy (A1, B8, DR3). The combination of PHA and celiac disease has not yet been described and is probably a coincidence. However, it is suggested that other PHA patients be typed in order to investigate the segregation between HLA type, PHA and celiac disease.