Letter to the Editor

Primary Aldosteronism in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Authors: Dung Ngoc Pham Nguyen, MD, Lan Thi Hoang Nguyen, MD, Khanh Vinh Quoc Luong, MD

Abstract

Alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system have been documented in patients with diabetes mellitus. Their blood potassium levels are usually high or in normal ranges. The syndrome of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism or renal tubular acidosis (RTA) type IV is most frequently seen in diabetes mellitus, usually with concomitant nephropathy. It is characterized by hyperkalemia and low levels of plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone without significant changes in glucocorticoid secretion. We present the case of a diabetic patient with hypokalemia and low renin levels with inappropriately high plasma aldosterone concentration, suggestive of primary aldosteronism.

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