Results of treatment in 68 patients with idiopathic aldosteronism in Japan.

Based on the results of a nationwide questionaire survey during the decade from 1963 in Japan, 68 cases of idiopathic aldosteronism were collected in order to investigate the actual treatment for this disorder performed in Japan. Idiopathic aldosteronism was usually treated by unilateral or subtotal adrenalectomy. Unlike resection of adenoma, adrenals surgery were not so effective and only 50% of cases obtained a favourable result. Surgical treatment was effective in 60.5% of cases of nodular hyperplasia while effective only in 26.3% of cases of diffuse hypreplasia. Opinions from answers to the questionaires favoured total bilateral adrenalectomy or subtotal adrenalectomy either with or without spironolactone administration.