Hypertensive cardiomegaly caused by an aldosterone-secreting adenoma in a newborn

Abstract

A case of primary hyperaldosteronism and cardiomegaly due to a unilateral adrenal adenoma in a newborn is presented. Some peculiarities, most likely in relation to the onset of the disease during fetal life were evident: plasma cortisol was slightly increased before surgery, plasma renin activity was elevated 9 months after surgery and mineralcorticoid receptors remained suppressed 4 months after surgery. Unilateral adrenalectomy reversed both hypertension and cardiomegaly. We speculate that cardiomegaly was related to both hyperaldosteronism and hypertension and that individual factors are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiomegaly in hyperaldosteronism.