Disturbances of Na/K balance: pseudohypoaldosteronism revisited.

Introduction Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) is a heterogenous syndrome resulting from the inability for aldosterone to produce one of its physiologic effects, namely the promotion of potassium and hydrogen secretion. It is thus characterized by three essential features: (1) hyperkalemia, (2) metabolic acidosis, and (3) abnormally elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations. It has been classified by Kuhnle (1) into three distinct diseases or types (Table 1).