Via practica 5/2005

THE ROLE OF THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF SECONDARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION DUE TO HORMONAL CHANGES

Arterial hypertension due to hormonal changes is epidemiologically negligible in comparison with essential hypertension. The most important causes are hormonally active adrenal tumors: pheochromocytoma and cortical adenomas causing primary aldosteronism and hypercortisolism. Clinical aspects of these rare diseases are very important. If the diagnosis is right, these cases are mostly completely curable. However, if the disease remains unrecognised and isn`t treated correctly, the consequences may be severe complications or even death of the patient. It could seem like the most important person in the diagnostics is the specialist – endocrinologist. Actually the role of the physician of the first contact is equally important. His task is to choose from all the patients suffering from hypertension for further endocrinological examination, those who according to the clinical symptoms have the justified suspicion of the hormonally caused arterial hypertension. The authors mention those clinical symptoms, which should point to the hormonally caused arterial hypertension and initiate its successful diagnostics and treatment.

Keywords: arterial hypertension, pheochromocytoma, primary aldosteronism, diagnostics.