Ana Belén Hernández Cascales, Alicia Hernández Torres, María Ángeles Ibáñez Gil, Pedro Pujante Alarcón, Alfonso López Ruiz^*, María Dolores Hellín Gil, Juan Mayor Barrancos

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Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital University Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain;.
Infectious Internal Medicine, Hospital University Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain;.
Health Center Mariano Yago, Murcia, Spain;.
Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital University Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Roman Alberca Psychiatric Hospital, El Palmar, Spain..
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Abstract: We expose a case of a woman with hypertension and hypokalemia. The differential diagnosis should include primary hyperaldosteronism, diuretics or lazantes intake, secondary hyperaldosteronism. In this patient, additional tests performed show no cause of hormonal disruption and the whole picture is due to a high intake of licorice. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active component of licorice, inhibits renal IIbeta-hydroxisteroid dehydrogenase. This allows cortisol to stimulate mineralocorticoid receptors. Licorice ingestion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertension with hypokalemia.

Keywords: Licorice; Glycyrrhizic Acid; Glycyrrhizinic Acid; Induced Hypertension; Hypokalemia

Cite this paper: A. Hernández Cascales, A. Torres, M. Ibáñez Gil, P. Alarcón, A. López Ruiz, M. Hellín Gil and J. Barrancos, "Hypertension Unusual Cause," Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Vol. 5 No. 1, 2014, pp. 1-3. doi: 10.4236/pp.2014.51001.

References

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