Diabetes mellitus in primary aldosteronism

Information concerning diabetes mellitus associated with primary aldosteronism is scarce. To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in its two main pathogenetic forms of primary aldosteronism and to evaluate its association with several clinical variables. Fifty in-patients (31 female and 19 male, aged 16-66), diagnosed during the years 1980-1998 as aldosterone producing adenoma (n = 26) or as idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (n = 24). Morning fasting plasma glucose was measured by glucoso oxidase method in all patients. In the presence of higher values, confirmatory measurements were performed on the next day. The results were evaluated retrospectively by the diagnostic criteria of American Diabetes Association, 1997. Statistical significance of the association between diabetes mellitus and clinical variables was evaluated by chi-square test. Diabetes mellitus was ascertained in 6 patients out of 50 (12%; interval of 95% confidence 5-24%). Diabetes was accompanied significantly more often with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (10-47%) than with aldosterone producing adenoma (0-13%). Patients with the family history of diabetes suffered more often (9-76%) from this disease than those without the history (1-19%). Obesity, longer (> 5 years) duration of hypertension and hypokalaemia did not affect the occurrence of diabetes. The occurrence of diabetes in primary aldosteronism was connected significantly with its idiopathic subtype and positive family history of diabetes. (Tab. 2, Ref. 11.)