Polycystic kidney disease presenting with hypertension and hypokalemia.

Abstract

Hypokalemic hypertension is a common condition leading to the diagnosis of secondary hypertension. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman for whom the diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease arose during the investigation of possible hyperaldosteronism. Activation of the renin system, as supported by recent studies, can explain the mechanism of hypokalemia and hypertension in this inherited cystic kidney disorder. Clinicians should be aware of this relatively uncommon clinical phenomenon of secondary hypertension in polycystic kidney disease. Increased understanding of the disorder's underlying mechanism should lay the foundation for better appreciation of potentially effective blood pressure treatments. The availability of a direct renin inhibitor may redirect research toward finding a remedy for this troublesome disease.

• Authors: Kai Ming Chow, Ronald Ching-Wan Ma, Cheuk Chun Szeto, Philip Kam-Tao Li
• Journal: American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation (Am J Kidney Dis) Vol. 59 Issue 2 Pg. 270-2 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1523-6838 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21962616 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Amides
• Fumarates
• aliskiren
• Potassium Chloride
• Renin

Topics

• Amides (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fumarates (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hypertension (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Hypokalemia (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Middle Aged
• Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant (complications, genetics)
• Potassium Chloride (therapeutic use)
• Renin (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Treatment Outcome