If a patient is suspected to have Conn's disease, which analyte would be ordered and how would it appear?

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Multiple Choice

If a patient is suspected to have Conn's disease, which analyte would be ordered and how would it appear?

Conn’s disease causes excess aldosterone, which makes the kidneys reabsorb sodium and excrete potassium more than normal. This means more potassium is lost in the urine, so urinary potassium excretion would be increased. Serum potassium, on the other hand, is usually lowered (hypokalemia) due to the same aldosterone effect, so an option suggesting increased serum potassium wouldn’t fit. A decreased urinary potassium would also be inconsistent with aldosterone-driven potassium loss.

Conn’s disease causes excess aldosterone, which makes the kidneys reabsorb sodium and excrete potassium more than normal. This means more potassium is lost in the urine, so urinary potassium excretion would be increased. Serum potassium, on the other hand, is usually lowered (hypokalemia) due to the same aldosterone effect, so an option suggesting increased serum potassium wouldn’t fit. A decreased urinary potassium would also be inconsistent with aldosterone-driven potassium loss.

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