New-onset resistant hypertension in a newly diagnosed prostate cancer patient.

We report the case of a 69-year-old man who developed severe resistant hypertension despite the use of 6 antihypertensive medications, including diuretics. He had metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia with suppressed plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone. Concurrently, he was diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate gland, a rare form of prostate cancer. Despite absence of typical Cushingoid features, investigation confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) from neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Due to the severity of his hypercortisolism, he underwent urgent bilateral adrenalectomy for hormonal and symptomatic control. Blood pressure improved significantly and he was dismissed with a single antihypertensive agent. Unfortunately, the patient died from his cancer one month later. PMID: 31353410 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: American Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Am J Hypertens Source Type: research