Primary aldosteronism, or Conn syndrome, is the most common endocrine cause of hypertension. It is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases, as well as a lower quality of life than for hypertension due to other causes. The multi-systemic effects of primary aldosteronism can be attributed to aldosterone-mediated activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor in a range of tissues. In this review, we explore the signalling pathways of the mineralocorticoid receptor, with a shift from the traditional focus on the regulation of renal sodium-potassium exchange to a broader understanding of its role in the modulation of tissue inflammation, fibrosis and remodelling. The appreciation of primary aldosteronism as a multi-system disease with tissue-specific pathophysiology may lead to more vigilant testing and earlier institution of targeted interventions.
Keywords: adrenal cortex; aldosterone; cortisol; mineralocorticoid receptor; primary aldosteronism.