Background: Primary hyperaldosteronism is an uncommon disorder, and there are few reports of its occurrence and management in pregnancy.
Case: Primary hyperaldosteronism was suspected before pregnancy in a 31-year-old women with refractory hypertension and hypokalemia. Pregnancy evaluation revealed suppressed renin levels and high aldosterone levels; computed tomography revealed a 1-cm mass in the left adrenal gland. The patient became pregnant before completion of evaluation and treatment. On high doses of nifedipine and nadolol, the first-trimester blood pressure was 130/98 mm Hg and remained high in the early second trimester. In view of the risks of poorly controlled hypertension, adrenalectomy was performed at 15 weeks' gestation, with rapid improvement in blood pressure and elimination of the patient's requirement for large doses of potassium daily. Antihypertensive medication was withdrawn, with maintenance of normal blood pressure until 36 weeks' gestation. At that time the blood pressure rose slightly but responded to bed rest. A healthy female infant was delivered at term by cesarean section.
Conclusion: Previous reports of emergency preterm delivery and a case of neonatal mortality in the setting of hyperaldosteronism in pregnancy confirm the significant risks associated with this condition. In our patient, adrenalectomy in the early second trimester resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement in hypertension, reversal of hypokalemia and a good pregnancy outcome.