Abstract
Aggravated hypertension (HT) was observed in a 71-year-old female taking sokeikakketsuto (TJ-53: containing 1g of licorice). Her serum potassium level was normal, but her plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were a lower limit of normal range. Based on these data, she was considered to have pseudoaldosteronism (PsA). Discontinuing sokeikakketsuto intake resulted in the improvement of aggravated HT, as well as the change to middle of normal range for PRA and PAC. Although the ratio of PAC/PRA transiently increased, it decreased to the baseline level after 16 weeks.
It is thought that PsA should be considered as a cause of HT without hypokalemia in the administration of licorice, and the serial determination of PAC/PRA may be a useful maker to assess the status of PsA.
