International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 1, Issue 4 , Pages 168-172, December 2007

An Unusual Cause of Hypokalemia in an Elderly Man with Hypertension

  • Hung-Chieh Wu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ping-Heng Lee

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Ru Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Han-Hsiang Chen

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Taipei Nursing College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Han-Hsiang Chen, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Section 2, Chung Shan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Accepted 20 October 2007.

Article Outline

Summary 

Hypokalemia in the elderly usually results from gastrointestinal loss or the use of diuretics. However, primary aldosteronism should be considered in hypertensive patients with metabolic alkalosis and unexplained hypokalemia with hyperkaliuresis. We report a 63 year-old hypertensive man with such metabolic findings. The transtubular potassium concentration gradient and serum aldosterone level were higher than normal. Abdominal computed tomography showed bilaterally enlarged adrenal glands, and a nuclear medicine study supported the diagnosis of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

Key Words:  hypertension , hypokalemia , metabolic alkalosis , primary aldosteronism

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References 

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PII: S1873-9598(08)70042-5

doi:10.1016/S1873-9598(08)70042-5

International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 1, Issue 4 , Pages 168-172, December 2007

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