ABSTRACT
Hypertension is well recognized as an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. This chapter focuses on primary aldosteronism (PA) and other diseases of the endocrine system that are directly associated with high blood pressure. There are several examples of endocrine disease in which hypertension features prominently as a direct result of hormonal abnormalities. The consequences of excess aldosterone production on epithelial tissue are well recognized. However, it is less well recognized that excess aldosterone is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity. The relative prevalence of causes of PA varies by geographical location, but the majority are sporadic, regardless of the population studies. Familial syndromes are a rare cause of PA. However, their etiology gives insight into the control and regulation of aldosterone in both health and disease. The standard investigation to confirm aldosterone excess is adrenal vein sampling (AVS). AVS is a technically demanding procedure that is difficult to access out with tertiary referral centers.
