- idiopathic a. SYN: primary a..
- primary a. an adrenocortical disorder caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone and characterized by headaches, nocturia, polyuria, fatigue, hypertension, potassium depletion, hypokalemic alkalosis, hypervolemia, and decreased plasma renin activity; may be associated with small benign adrenocortical adenomas. SYN: Conn syndrome, idiopathic a..
- secondary a. a. resulting not from a defect intrinsic to the adrenal cortex but from a stimulation of hormonal secretion caused by extra-adrenal disorders; associated with increased plasma renin activity and occurs in heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, and hypoproteinemia.
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al·do·ste·ron·ism -.rō-.niz-əm, -'rō- n a condition that is characterized by excessive secretion of aldosterone and typically by loss of body potassium, muscular weakness, and elevated blood pressure called also hyperaldosteronism
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n.
overproduction of aldosterone, one of the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex, leading to abnormalities in the amounts of sodium, potassium, and water in the body. It is one cause of raised blood pressure (hypertension). See also Conn's syndrome.
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al·dos·ter·on·ism (al-dosґtə-ro-niz″əm) an abnormality of electrolyte metabolism caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone; called also hyperaldosteronism.Medical dictionary. 2011.