Primary aldosteronism with right-dominant heart failure

Abstract

A 48 year-old obese male with hypertension was admitted to our department because of severe right-dominant heart failure. His heart rhythm was 2:1 atrial flutter and the left ventricle was diffusely hypertrophic and hypokinetic. Primary aldosteronism was diagnosed based on severe hypokalemia (2.6 mEq/L) and a low renin-high aldosterone state with hypertension despite the use of an angiotensin-II receptor blocker, but its etiology could not be clarified with computed tomography, adrenal scintigraphy, and adrenal vein sampling. Ascites and edema rapidly worsened. Ascites aspiration was performed daily, until serum potassium was normalized by a full dose of an aldosterone receptor blocker (spironolactone 100 mg/day). A diuretic (furosemide) was then added. Rate control of atrial flutter was obtained with a beta-adrenergic blocker, and anticoagulation therapy was started. His heart failure was successfully controlled. Coronary arteries were normal on coronary arteriograms, and an endomyocardial biopsy sample obtained from the left ventricle did not show any specific pathological findings. Blood pressure was well controlled with the full dose of the aldosterone receptor blocker, but he died one year later due to intracerebral hemorrhage. As his heart failure was right dominant, we believe that its etiology may have been hyperaldosteronism-induced cardiomyopathy, and not advanced hypertensive heart disease.