[Aldosterone in primary hyperaldosteronism].

The conditions which must be respected to ensure the validity of the biochemical diagnostic criteria of primary hyperaldosteronism, conditions of blood sampling, timing posture and age of the patient, sodium intake and intercurrent drug therapy. As none of the tests is 100 p. 100 specific in distinguishing adrenal adenoma from hyperplasia, an association of several investigations has to be used. In cases of adenoma, the authors recommend the investigations which demonstrate the autonomy of secretion and the prevalence of circadian rhythm over the influence of change in posture. The measurement of aldosterone levels may be completed by that of its precursor, 18-hydroxy-corticosterone (18 OH CS).