OBJECTIVETo screen primary aldosteronism cases with ARR (aldosterone/plasma renin activity, ARR) from patients with hypertension, and to evaluate the diagnosis value of ARR in primary aldosteronism cases and analysis the clinical characters of primary aldosteronism cases.

METHODSNine hundred and two patients with hypertension were collected, the plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity ratio were detected by radio-immunity method, after that, ARR were calculated. Retrospective analysis was made of clinical data in 126 primary aldosteronism cases, which ARR were over 25.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-six cases (14%) were diagnosed as primary aldosteronism, and of them, 49 cases had hypokalemia. 25 patients received surgical operation and the rate of efficiency and cure of surgery treatment were 100% and 48%, respectively. The rate of efficiency and cure of drug treatment was 89% and 24% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary aldosteronism affects over 10% of patients with hypertension in China. Patients with hypertension and most patients with treatment-resistant hypertension should undergo screening for primary aldosteronism with ARR. A high ARR is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants confirmatory testing.