Primary hyperaldosteronism

After 5 years of unsuccessful attempts to lower my blood pressure with countless combinations of meds and consistent low potassium levels, I’m now waiting for a CT scan of my adrenal glands to hopefully confirm a diagnosis of Conn’s Syndrome. My bloods back this up with renin levels and high aldosterone levels. Currently on a combination of Losartan and Spironolactone but my BP remains high. Would love to hear from others with similar.

[Nannyvee]

I was like you on losartan with all different tablets along side, nothing would bring it down, im now on olmesartan instead of losartan and my bp is finally starting to go down.

[ChrissiG]

I don’t have

[ChrissiG in reply to ChrissiG]

I don’t have the same condition as you but I have been in losartin for 7 years. It worked for about 5 years but since then it has not been controlling my BP well at all. It has been increased from 25mgs to 100mgs with no improvement. They’ve tried adding other things (mainly diuretics) in which all make me ill so I’m trying to come off losartan now and try something I haven’t tried before.

[Windmill6]

Hi,just seen your post ! I too have primary aldosteronism after approx 10 years of symptoms very high blood pressure and low potassium levels.I am a 64 year old lady (?) And was just treated for high bp at the beginning on lots of different meds which didn't really help.I didn't have a BP monitor at home then either so just relied on test at Dr's. Developed all those strange symptoms, thirst,palpitations, digestive issues,tingling ,muscle cramps etc.Then came along the low potassium, in and out of A/E just to be sent home with potassium tablets but on 2 occasions kept in overnight for infusions of potassium. No one connected all this together until I saw a gastroenterologist for severe gut problems. He actually listened to me!! And sent me for the blood test that clinched the diagnosis of Conns syndrome. I had previously been sent for a ct scan on my kidneys ( as my GP thought all this was kidney related)but the scan was clear,even though my endocrinologist diagnosed me with high aldosterone and undetectable renin.

Good luck with your treatments.

If you want any further information I'm happy to chat.

I am uk based.

[Holiday12345 in reply to Windmill6]

Hi Windmill6, do you mind if I jump in I’m looking for others with high aldosterone levels. I’ve just had letter from hypertension clinic after bloods and urine test with high renin and very high aldosterone indicative of secondary hyperaldosteronism which consultant has said commonest cause would be tenal artery stenosis, but I though it could be adrenal tumour also? I also had low potassium when I was hospitalised at new year for a week with very high bp and I’m sure they did all the specialised blood tests and I did 24 he urine test to check for this but I never heard anything so assuming all was ok. Can’t understand how fine then but not now. If you can’t have contrast dye me in mri or ct is there any other way of diagnosing either do you know? Sorry I’m bit flustered after finding out this today.

[Holiday12345]

Are they not doing further tests like mri or ct checking for what’s causing this hyperaldosteronism? I’ve been told could be renal artery stenosis or adrenal nodule.

[Windmill6]

Hi sorry for delay. In conns syndrome the rennin is very low /undetectable and aldosterone is high which indicates adrenal tumor or hyperplasia,enlarged glands. In your case with both levels high the cause is something else like renal artery stenosis but other things can also cause this for example liver or heart failure. My ct scan, done twice ,was complete normal or I wondered if it was read correctly by the radiologist. Hope you get some answers to the mystery.