Joined
·
741 Posts
If you face a case where the patient is presented with elevated blood pressure and a mass in the adrenal seen in CT scan or MRI then you have two options:
In Pheochromocytoma you have elevated catecholamines with its consequent increased urinary VMA and cortisol and the crises of tachycardia, sweating, irritability ...etc
In Conn's syndrome you have the effects of high aldosterone such as hypokalemia and alkalosis.
While surgical treatment is similar for both of them with resection of the tumor or adrenalectomy, medical treatment is certainly different.
In pheo you give alpha and beta blockers while in conn you give aldosterone antagonists such as sprinolactone or amiloride.
See also this related thread
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...ne-adenoma-idiopathic-hyperaldosteronism.html
- Pheochromocytoma
- Primary hyperaldosteronism
In Pheochromocytoma you have elevated catecholamines with its consequent increased urinary VMA and cortisol and the crises of tachycardia, sweating, irritability ...etc
In Conn's syndrome you have the effects of high aldosterone such as hypokalemia and alkalosis.
While surgical treatment is similar for both of them with resection of the tumor or adrenalectomy, medical treatment is certainly different.
In pheo you give alpha and beta blockers while in conn you give aldosterone antagonists such as sprinolactone or amiloride.
See also this related thread
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...ne-adenoma-idiopathic-hyperaldosteronism.html