Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome)
Encounter flow
12/12 authoredCanonical 12-phase frame with authored status for this dossier.
Frame
Confirm PA (autonomous aldosterone with suppressed renin); rule out secondary aldosteronism (ADA 2026)
Biochemical confirmation
Patient inputs (12)
Anatomical assessment after biochemical confirmation (ADA 2026)
Younger patients more likely to benefit from surgery (ADA 2026)
Severity and response monitoring (ADA 2026)
Severity (ADA 2026)
Wash out / substitute interfering drugs before ARR (especially MRA) (ADA 2026)
Drug interference with ARR (ADA 2026)
Hypokalemia (often present); replete before ARR (ADA 2026)
Screening test (>20 with aldosterone >15 ng/dL suspicious) (ADA 2026)
Renin interpretation; saline suppression cautious (ADA 2026)
Confirmatory saline suppression (>10 ng/dL after 2L NS positive) (ADA 2026)
Alternative confirmatory (>12 µg/day with sodium repletion) (ADA 2026)
Lateralization for surgical candidate (gold standard for subtype) (ADA 2026)
* = hard-required. Engine cannot meaningfully run until these are filled.
Severity triggers (7)
- informationallife_threateningsevere_hypokalemia_with_arrhythmiaK+ <2.5 with weakness / paresthesia / ECG changes (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationallife_threateningmalignant_htn_with_end_organ_damageBP ≥180/120 with end-organ damage in PA (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalsevereunilateral_disease_on_AVSLateralization on AVS (lateralization index >4 with cosyntropin) (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepa_with_adrenal_mass_gt_4cmAdrenal mass >4 cm on CT in patient with PA (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatepositive_arr_for_confirmatoryARR ≥20 with aldosterone ≥15 ng/dL (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatespironolactone_gynecomastiaPainful gynecomastia or breast tenderness on spironolactone (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatefamilial_pa_under_20PA <20 yr or family history of stroke <40 (ADA 2026)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
Workflow calculators
Run this disease's risk and dosing calculators inline.
Recommended regimen
Medical management of PA (ADA 2026)- spironolactonefirst lineMRA_non_selective12.5–25 mg • PO • daily, titrate to 100–200 mgtriggers: PA_medical_or_bilateralFirst-line MRA; gynecomastia common (ADA 2026)rxcui 9997
- eplerenonesecond lineMRA_selective25 mg BID • PO • BID, titrate to 100 mg/daytriggers: spironolactone_intolerant, gynecomastiaSelective MRA; fewer endocrine SE; renal dose adjust (ADA 2026)rxcui 298869
- amiloridesecond lineepithelial_Na_blocker5–10 mg • PO • dailytriggers: MRA_intolerantDistal Na+ channel blocker; K-sparing (ADA 2026)rxcui 644
- triamterenesecond lineepithelial_Na_blocker50–100 mg • PO • BIDtriggers: amiloride_alternativeAlternative K-sparing (ADA 2026)rxcui 10763
- chlorthalidoneadd onthiazide_like_diuretic12.5–25 mg • PO • dailytriggers: BP_above_target_on_MRACombination for BP control (ADA 2026)rxcui 2409
- amlodipineadd onDHP_CCB5–10 mg • PO • dailytriggers: BP_above_target_on_MRA2025 AHA HTN combinationrxcui 17767
- lisinopriladd onACEi10 mg • PO • dailytriggers: BP_above_target_on_MRA2025 AHA HTNrxcui 29046
outpatient playbook — drug actions (2)
- 1. spironolactone12.5–25 mg → 100–200 mg • PO • dailytrigger: PA confirmed, medical management (ADA 2026)First-line (ADA 2026)
- 2. eplerenone25 mg BID → 100 mg/day • PO • BIDtrigger: Spironolactone SE (ADA 2026)Selective (ADA 2026)
Auto-drafted A&P note
outpatientSubjective
- Possible entry pathways: Resistant HTN (≥3 antihypertensives incl diuretic) at goal not achieved (ADA 2026); Spontaneous hypokalemia or thiazide-induced disproportionate hypokalemia (ADA 2026); HTN onset <30 yr (ADA 2026).
Objective
- No vitals, labs, or imaging entered for this encounter.
Assessment
**Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome)** (endo.primary_aldosteronism.v1). Phenotype framing: APA vs bilateral adrenal hyperplasia vs unilateral hyperplasia vs glucocorticoid-remediable vs adrenal carcinoma (ADA 2026) Scope: Confirm PA (autonomous aldosterone with suppressed renin); rule out secondary aldosteronism (ADA 2026) No severity triggers fired against current inputs.
Plan
Regimen axis: **Medical management of PA (ADA 2026)**. 1. spironolactone 12.5–25 mg PO daily, titrate to 100–200 mg (MRA_non_selective, first line) — First-line MRA; gynecomastia common (ADA 2026) 2. eplerenone 25 mg BID PO BID, titrate to 100 mg/day (MRA_selective, second line) — Selective MRA; fewer endocrine SE; renal dose adjust (ADA 2026) 3. amiloride 5–10 mg PO daily (epithelial_Na_blocker, second line) — Distal Na+ channel blocker; K-sparing (ADA 2026) 4. triamterene 50–100 mg PO BID (epithelial_Na_blocker, second line) — Alternative K-sparing (ADA 2026) 5. chlorthalidone 12.5–25 mg PO daily (thiazide_like_diuretic, add on) — Combination for BP control (ADA 2026) 6. amlodipine 5–10 mg PO daily (DHP_CCB, add on) — 2025 AHA HTN combination 7. lisinopril 10 mg PO daily (ACEi, add on) — 2025 AHA HTN Setting playbook (outpatient) — Screen, confirm, subtype, manage medically or surgically (ADA 2026) 8. spironolactone 12.5–25 mg → 100–200 mg PO daily — PA confirmed, medical management (ADA 2026) (First-line (ADA 2026)) 9. eplerenone 25 mg BID → 100 mg/day PO BID — Spironolactone SE (ADA 2026) (Selective (ADA 2026)) Non-pharmacologic actions: - Adrenalectomy referral if unilateral (ADA 2026) - Lifestyle (Na restriction, exercise) (ADA 2026) - OSA screen + CPAP (ADA 2026) AVOID / contraindication checks: - MRA block if K gt 5 (ADA 2026) - Eplerenone renal dose adjust (ADA 2026) - ARB MRA combo monitor K (ADA 2026)
Monitoring
Regimen monitoring: - BP home log (ADA 2026) - BMP K q1w x4 then q3m (ADA 2026) - breast tenderness screen on spironolactone (ADA 2026) Setting (outpatient) monitoring: - BP target <130/80 (ADA 2026) - BMP q3m (ADA 2026) Follow-up plan: Endo q3–6 mo; cardiology / nephrology as needed; PASO classification post-op (ADA 2026) - Close-out criterion: Follow-up booked Monitoring phase: BP home log, K+, creatinine, gynecomastia / breast tenderness on spironolactone, post-op ARR (ADA 2026)
Disposition
Current setting: outpatient — Screen, confirm, subtype, manage medically or surgically (ADA 2026) Disposition criteria: - Continue medical or post-op follow-up (ADA 2026) Escalation triggers (move to higher acuity): - Severe hypoK / malignant HTN → ED (ADA 2026)
Earlier-Return Triggers
Return-precaution thresholds (watch for): - [LIFE_THREATENING] K+ <2.5 with weakness / paresthesia / ECG changes (ADA 2026) - [LIFE_THREATENING] BP ≥180/120 with end-organ damage in PA (ADA 2026) - [SEVERE] Lateralization on AVS (lateralization index >4 with cosyntropin) (ADA 2026)
Citations
- Endocrine Society 2016 PA Guideline (Funder); SPARTACUS (Lancet 2016); PASO 2017 [PMID:26934393](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26934393/) - Cited evidence (PMID 27325147) [PMID:27325147](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27325147/) - Cited evidence (PMID 28576687) [PMID:28576687](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28576687/) Last reconciled with current guidelines: 2026-05-22.
- Endocrine Society 2016 PA Guideline (Funder); SPARTACUS (Lancet 2016); PASO 2017 — PMID:26934393
- Cited evidence (PMID 27325147) — PMID:27325147
- Cited evidence (PMID 28576687) — PMID:28576687