Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism

This case highlights a patient who was evaluated for hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with an adrenal adenoma and underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Her renal function was normal before the procedure. However, on follow-up, she was found to have...

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Main Authors: Joel Thomas, Mohammed Fahad Khan, Rohan Augustine, Vishwanath Siddini, Hebri Sudarshan Ballal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Annals of Medical Science and Research
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amsr.amsr_23_24
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author Joel Thomas
Mohammed Fahad Khan
Rohan Augustine
Vishwanath Siddini
Hebri Sudarshan Ballal
author_facet Joel Thomas
Mohammed Fahad Khan
Rohan Augustine
Vishwanath Siddini
Hebri Sudarshan Ballal
author_sort Joel Thomas
collection DOAJ
description This case highlights a patient who was evaluated for hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with an adrenal adenoma and underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Her renal function was normal before the procedure. However, on follow-up, she was found to have gradually increasing creatinine levels, along with a shift from hypokalemia to hyperkalemia. Imaging studies also showed the presence of medullary nephrocalcinosis. The shift from hypokalemia to hyperkalemia is due to chronic suppression of the renin–aldosterone axis of the contralateral adrenal gland. Patients with primary hyperaldosteronism experience a state of hyperfiltration, which masks underlying renal dysfunction. The unmasking of renal dysfunction occurs postprocedure and was responsible for the renal issues observed. Chronic hypokalemia leading to tubular interstitial injury or kaliopenic nephropathy was the underlying cause of medullary nephrocalcinosis in this case. This case report highlights the importance of understanding renal dynamics in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism who have undergone adrenalectomy.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Annals of Medical Science and Research
spelling doaj-art-8238fadd9a00488fadfc7710087ca6382025-08-20T03:38:49ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Medical Science and Research2949-785X2949-78682025-01-0141434610.4103/amsr.amsr_23_24Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronismJoel ThomasMohammed Fahad KhanRohan AugustineVishwanath SiddiniHebri Sudarshan BallalThis case highlights a patient who was evaluated for hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with an adrenal adenoma and underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Her renal function was normal before the procedure. However, on follow-up, she was found to have gradually increasing creatinine levels, along with a shift from hypokalemia to hyperkalemia. Imaging studies also showed the presence of medullary nephrocalcinosis. The shift from hypokalemia to hyperkalemia is due to chronic suppression of the renin–aldosterone axis of the contralateral adrenal gland. Patients with primary hyperaldosteronism experience a state of hyperfiltration, which masks underlying renal dysfunction. The unmasking of renal dysfunction occurs postprocedure and was responsible for the renal issues observed. Chronic hypokalemia leading to tubular interstitial injury or kaliopenic nephropathy was the underlying cause of medullary nephrocalcinosis in this case. This case report highlights the importance of understanding renal dynamics in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism who have undergone adrenalectomy.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amsr.amsr_23_24adrenal adenomaadrenalectomyhyperkalemianephrocalcinosisprimary hyperaldosteronism
spellingShingle Joel Thomas
Mohammed Fahad Khan
Rohan Augustine
Vishwanath Siddini
Hebri Sudarshan Ballal
Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
Annals of Medical Science and Research
adrenal adenoma
adrenalectomy
hyperkalemia
nephrocalcinosis
primary hyperaldosteronism
title Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
title_full Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
title_fullStr Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
title_full_unstemmed Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
title_short Renal unmasking postadrenalectomy: From hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
title_sort renal unmasking postadrenalectomy from hypokalemia to hyperkalemia in primary hyperaldosteronism
topic adrenal adenoma
adrenalectomy
hyperkalemia
nephrocalcinosis
primary hyperaldosteronism
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amsr.amsr_23_24
work_keys_str_mv AT joelthomas renalunmaskingpostadrenalectomyfromhypokalemiatohyperkalemiainprimaryhyperaldosteronism
AT mohammedfahadkhan renalunmaskingpostadrenalectomyfromhypokalemiatohyperkalemiainprimaryhyperaldosteronism
AT rohanaugustine renalunmaskingpostadrenalectomyfromhypokalemiatohyperkalemiainprimaryhyperaldosteronism
AT vishwanathsiddini renalunmaskingpostadrenalectomyfromhypokalemiatohyperkalemiainprimaryhyperaldosteronism
AT hebrisudarshanballal renalunmaskingpostadrenalectomyfromhypokalemiatohyperkalemiainprimaryhyperaldosteronism