Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

1. A 50-year-old man has a 3-year history of hypertension. He complains of fatig

ID: 3479805 • Letter: 1

Question

1. A 50-year-old man has a 3-year history of hypertension. He complains of fatigue and occasional muscle cramps. The patient has not had any other significant medical problems in the past, and there is no family history of hypertension. Examination reveals a blood pressure of 168/104 mm hg, and additional laboratory tests reveal that the patient has primary hyperaldosteronism. Which of the following sets of findings would be expected in this man with elevated levels of aldosterone due to abnormally increased Extracellular fluid volume Plasma Renin Activity Plasma Potassium Concentration

Explanation / Answer

Answer is G.

Reason:

As said that it is primary hyperaldosteronism, also known as Conn' syndrome, is associated with the development of high blood pressure and low potassium levels in the blood.

In the principal cells (which mediates collecting ducts) aldosterone increases the activity of basolateral membrane sodium potassium ATPase and apical epithelial sodium channels as well as Renal outer medullary potassium channels, which increases the sodium reabsorbtion and potassium secretion, making lumen more electrically negative and allows chlorine to follow sodium. As a result these actions cause increase extracellular sodium and fluid volume and lowering extracellular potassium.

Plasma renin activity or Random plasma renin is the measure of the activity of plasma enzyme renin. So whenever there is high renin in the blood it indicates the low sodium level and vice versa. Hence in this case there will be increase in Extracellular fluid volume, Decrease in plasma renin activity and decrease in plasma potassium concentration.