A case of severe hypertension caused by ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia

This report describes a rare case of ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) arisen with symptomatic severe hypertension and hypokaliemia. A 55-year-old man was admitted to hospital with a clinical picture characterized by several episodes of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and right hemiplegia, related to severe arterial hypertension. Laboratory tests showed urinary levels of catecholamines, metanephrines and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) in normal range; high urinary free cortisol excretion, elevated serum cortisol with loss of the circadian rhythm and low ACTH plasma levels. ACTH failed to respond to CRH administration. Serum cortisol levels were not modified after high doses of dexamethasone. MRI showed bilateral macronodular hyperplasia of adrenal glands, whereas pituitary-MRI did not show tumoral lesions. Therefore, ACTH-independent macronodular hyperplasia was suspected. Though obese, the patient had no typical Cushing habit, and symptomatic hypertension with hypokaliemia was the only clinical evidence for this rare kind of Cushing’s syndrome. After obtaining a satisfactory control of blood pressure, the patient was successfully submitted to laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy and underwent complete clinical remission. The histology showed adrenal macronodular hyperplasia. During the twenty-four month follow-up, the patient had no further transient ischemic attacks or need of glucocorticoid replacement therapy and withdrew the antihypertensive drugs.