Conn's Syndrome

Conn's Syndrome

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • What is Conn's Syndrome?

    Conn's Syndrome is also known as Aldosteronoma/Primary Hyperaldosteronism. An aldosteronoma is an adrenal tumor which makes excess amounts of aldosterone. Aldosterone normally helps regulate fluid status in the body, sodium and potassium levels, and affects blood pressure. When excess aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands or an adrenal nodule, patients often present to their physician with new elevation of blood pressure (hypertension) and low potassium (about 40% of patients). 

    University of Michigan Health's preeminence in the field dates back seven decades to the appointment of Dr. Jerome Conn as director of the U-M Health Metabolism Research Unit in 1943. Dr. Conn was the first to identify findings associated with excess aldosterone production. This constellation of findings is now known as Conn's syndrome.

    Appointment Information

    To see an endocrine surgeon about your adrenal disorder, call our clinic at 734-936-5830.

    How is Conn's Syndrome diagnosed?

    Diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism is confirmed by having an elevated aldosterone level and decreased renin level with an aldosterone:renin ratio of at least 20:1. Diagnosis is inferred from laboratory work. Imaging is then obtained, if not already performed, and in most cases adrenal vein sampling (an interventional radiology procedure) is performed. Adrenal vein sampling identifies from which adrenal gland excess aldosterone is coming from. In some patients, both adrenal glands are producing too much aldosterone.

    For patients with excess aldosterone production from one gland, surgery is usually proposed. Most surgeries can be performed by a laparoscopic approach (minimally invasive) through several small incisions. The vast majority of aldosterone producing nodules are benign, but in very rare cases, these nodules can be malignant. Most aldosteronomas are no more than 1-2 centimeters in size. Malignant aldosterone producing adrenocortical carcinomas should be considered when nodule size reaches greater than 3 to 3.5 centimeters, which is lower than the concern cutoff of malignancy for adrenal nodules in general (4 centimeters at University of Michigan, 6 centimeters in some centers).

    How is Conn's Syndrome treated?

    Patients with primary hyperaldosteronism are treated with medications such as spironolactone, aldactone, or eplerenone as it is not desirable to remove both adrenal glands in most patients.

    For patients with excess aldosterone production from one gland, surgery is usually proposed. Most surgeries can be performed by a laparoscopic approach (minimally invasive) through several small incisions. 

    Locations
    • Endocrine Oncology Clinic | Rogel Cancer Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor B1 Reception A
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5911       Get Directions
    • General Surgery Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor 2 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5331       Get Directions

    Doctors

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    Tobias Else, MD

    Associate Professor

    Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

    Paul Glenn Gauger, MD

    Paul Glenn Gauger, MD

    Professor

    Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

    Gary Douglas Hammer, MD

    Gary Douglas Hammer, MD, PhD

    Professor

    Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

    David Thomas Hughes, MD

    David Thomas Hughes, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Surgery

    Shafaq Khairi, MD

    Shafaq Khairi, MBBS

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

    Lauren Krumeich, MD

    Lauren Krumeich, MD, MS, FACS

    Assistant Professor

    Surgery

    Susan Clare Pitt, MD

    Susan Clare Pitt, MD

    Associate Professor

    Surgery

    Adina Florina Turcu, MD

    Adina Florina Turcu, MD, MS

    Associate Professor

    Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

    Hunter J Underwood, MD

    Hunter J Underwood, MD

    Assistant Professor

    Surgery

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