Primary hyperaldosteronism (PH) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. Apart from hypertension, hypokalaemia was hitherto considered to be the classical cardinal symptom. Its presence was therefore also usually a prerequisite for further diagnostic clarification in respect of PH. However, numerous new studies in normokalaemic hypertension patients now show that serum potassium leve...

Hypertension is defined as average systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure that are ≥95th percentile for gender, age, and height on ≥3 occasions (1). Renal parenchymal disease and essential hypertension are the most important causes in <12 and >12 years, respectively (2). Hypertension with hypokalaemia and suppression of plasma renin activity is known as mineralocorticoid hypert...

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is used to distinguish unilateral from bilateral aldosterone hypersecretion as a cause of primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA). This distinction is critical because unilateral disease is treated, and often cured, by adrenalectomy, whereas bilateral hypersecretion should be managed medically. In this article, we review the epidemiology and etiologies of PHA, present scr...