Endocrine hypertension

Up to 10% of patients have a secondary cause for their hypertension. Endocrine conditions associated with hypertension include diseases associated with mineralocorticoid excess, glucocorticoid excess, phaeochromocytomas/paragangliomas, acromegaly and primary hyperparathyroidism. Primary aldosteronism is the most common endocrine cause of hypertension. If not appropriately managed, primary aldosteronism has an unfavourable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality profile. It is treatable by medical or surgical approaches. Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours frequently associated with genetic abnormalities.