Familial forms broaden the horizons for primary aldosteronism.

The identification of familial forms of primary aldosteronism (PAL) has led to its detection in relatives of affected patients not suspected previously of having PAL. Many are normokalemic and some are even normotensive. This broadens the spectrum of PAL, permitting the study of its evolution and of intervention with specific therapy when hypertension develops. The genetic basis of one form involves steroid biosynthetic enzymes and the other form predisposes to hyperplasia and benign neoplasia.