Purpose of review This review will focus on hypertension due to underlying adrenal disorders in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diagnosis of adrenal hypertension and particularly primary aldosteronism (PA) in CKD is frequently not pursued. We outline limitations that advanced kidney disease poses on the diagnostic work up of these disorders and provide a framework for approaching CKD patients suspected of having an adrenal disorder. Recognition of these disorders is important as they are often underdiagnosed which leads to poorer outcomes. Recent findings Adrenal disease associated with hypertension in CKD is most commonly due to PA whereas pheochromocytoma and Cushing's disease are important but less common. Diagnosis of these diseases is important as their identification leads to better blood pressure control and can possibly mitigate the risk of progression of CKD. Work up and treatment of PA has been shown to be safe and is associated with less antihypertensive medication requirement for the associated hypertension and slower progression of CKD. Summary This chapter summarizes the importance of recognizing adrenal hypertension in CKD and reinforces the need for physicians to pursue these diagnoses in CKD patients as this is safe and improves both BP control and delays progression of CKD.
A 63-year-old man with past history of multiple myeloma recently started on a regimen of daratumumab, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone was referred to our emergency department for a rapidly rising serum creatinine as high as 10 mg/dL. He complained of fatigue, nausea, and poor appetite. Exam revealed hypertension, but no edema or rales. Labs were consistent with AKI without hypercalcemia or evidence of hemolysis or tumor lysis. Urinalysis and urine sediment were bland without proteinuria, hematuria, or pyuria. Initial concern was for hypovolemia or myeloma cast nephropathy. POCUS revealed no overt evidence of volume overload or depletion, instead revealing bilateral hydronephrosis. Bilateral percutaneous nephrostomies were placed with resolution of the AKI. Ultimately, referral imaging revealed interval progression of bulky retroperitoneal extramedullary plasmacytomas compressing the ureters bilaterally related to the underlying multiple myeloma.
