A Case of Primary Aldosteronism with Rhabdomyolysis / 대한신장학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Primary aldosteronism is a clinical syndrome of muscle weakness, hypertension and hypokalemia due to excess secretion of mineralocorticoid by the adrenal gland. In primary adlosteronism, muscle weakness is often caused by excess secretion of aldosterone, however, to our knowledge there have been no case reports rhabdomyolysis due to severe hypokalemia in domestic cases. A fifty-eight year old female who presented with myalgia was admitted into the hospital. Initial laboratory values demonstrate marked hypokalemia with elevated creatinine kinase and LDH. Also, her urine myoglobin was positive and plasma renin activity level was decreased and serum aldosterone level was increased. Owing to a high clinical suspicion of primary aldosteronism, an abdominal CT scan was performed revealing 1.6 cm sized mass in the right adrenal gland. After surgery, her blood pressure was normalized and serum potassium level was maintained to normal range without potassium replacement therapy. She is now in outpatient care under close follow-up. We report a case of a patient with paralysis of both lower extremities and myalgia, who later found to have primary aldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis due to severe hypokalemia.