Abstract

Background: Both primary aldosteronism (PA) and Cushing's syndrome (CS) cause hypertension. It is known that PA can be complicated with CS, but cases with both bilateral PA and unilateral CS are rare. Case presentation: A 65-year-old male patient was treated on 10 mg of amlodipine and 2 mg of doxazosin for hypertension from 6 years ago and his blood pressure was about 150/90 mm Hg on average. Because he gained 10 kg of weight over the last 6 months, he visited his primary physician. He had moon face and central obesity, and his blood examination showed the high concentrations of adrenal hormones, i.e., plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was 180 pg/mL and plasma renin activity (PRA) was 0.9 ng/mL/h (aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) was 200.2), cortisol was 11.1 mcg/dL and adrenocorticotropic hormone was undetectable. The twenty-four-hour urine test showed that the greater secretion of adrenal hormones, i.e., aldosterone was 21.4 mcg/day, free cortisol was 148.5 mcg/day (sodium was 190 mEq/day). The computed tomography scan showed bilateral adrenal tumors (37 mm on the left and 8 mm on the right, respectively). The captopril challenge test, the furosemide stress test, and the 1 mg and 8 mg dexamethasone suppression tests were conducted, and he was diagnosed with both PA and CS. By adrenal scintigraphy using 131I-adosterol, high accumulation was detected in the left adrenal gland, whereas there was no accumulation in the right adrenal gland. Hence, the tumor of the left adrenal gland was likely a cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumor. Furthermore, super-selective adrenal venous sampling indicated autonomous aldosterone secretion from bilateral adrenal glands. The patient underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy and the hypercortisolism was corrected. He lost 10 kg of weight 1 year after the surgery. PA remained as indicated by the blood test showing that PRA was 1.2 ng/mL/h, PAC was 347 pg/mL (ARR was 289.2). He is treated with 5 mg of esaxerenone, and his blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg on average. Conclusion: Adrenal venous sampling was able to determine laterality of PA with coexisting CS.

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