Living with Familial hyperaldosteronism
A group of inherited conditions in which the adrenal glands make too much aldosterone, causing high blood pressure.
Understanding Familial hyperaldosteronism
Excess aldosterone makes the kidneys hold on to salt, raising fluid levels and blood pressure. People can have severe high blood pressure, often early in life. There are three types, based on features and genetic cause. Type I can be treated with steroid medicine (glucocorticoids). Type III often has enlarged adrenal glands and severe high blood pressure starting in childhood.
Signs & symptoms
GARD describes this main symptom in its summary:
- High blood pressure (hypertension), sometimes severe
- High blood pressure that starts in childhood in some types
- Enlarged adrenal glands in type III
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists, hormone specialists and kidney specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists); Kidney specialists (nephrologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with National Kidney Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in genes cause this condition. It is autosomal dominant, which means a change in one copy of the gene can cause it. The three types have different genetic causes.
Also known as: fh; genetic hyperaldosteronism; hereditary hyperaldosteronism
Patient organizations
- National Kidney FoundationKidney diseases · United States
- Renal Support NetworkKidney diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Familial hyperaldosteronism.
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