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Hypertension in licorice abuse. A case report.
Giornale Italiano Di Cardiologia
|January 1, 1983
Summary
This case study shows liquorice can cause persistent hypertension, even after stopping consumption. It suggests liquorice may trigger high blood pressure in genetically susceptible individuals.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Systemic hypertension is a significant global health concern.
- Glycyrrhizic acid, found in liquorice, is known to cause hypertension through mineralocorticoid receptor agonism.
- Genetic predisposition can influence individual responses to hypertensive stimuli.
Observation:
- A young woman presented with systemic high blood pressure, hypokalemia, low plasma renin activity, and negligible aldosterone levels.
- These clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with liquorice-induced hypertension.
- Despite six months of liquorice abstinence, her blood pressure remained elevated.
Findings:
- Liquorice consumption led to hypertension with characteristic biochemical abnormalities.
- The hypertension persisted unusually long after liquorice withdrawal.
- This persistence suggests a potential role of liquorice in unmasking or facilitating a latent hypertensive state.
Implications:
- Liquorice-induced hypertension may have long-term consequences, especially in predisposed individuals.
- Physicians should consider liquorice consumption in the differential diagnosis of hypertension.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms underlying persistent liquorice-induced hypertension and genetic susceptibility.