[Excess mineralocorticoid syndrome secondary to nasal sprays containing 9 alpha-fluoroprednisolone].

Two patients with signs of hypermineralcorticism and suppressed plasma aldosterone levels are reported. For both patients the use of a nasal spray containing 9 alpha-fluoroprednisolone had been ascertained, the withdrawal of which was followed by the normalization of the clinical picture as well as by the normal reactivity of the renin-aldosterone system. The endocrine studies excluded the presence of enzymatic defects or the hypersecretion of minor mineralocorticoids. The tests with angiotensin II and ACTH did not result in an increase in aldosterone, which instead increased in a significant way after metoclopramide, even with still suppressed basal values. Since the PRA was normal at the time of the metoclopramide test, a persisting inhibition of the factors directly controlling aldosterone secretion by 9 alpha-fluoroprednisolone could be possibly envisaged. An interesting findings was the onset of severe hypokalemia, conditioning rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria in patient 1, after a treatment of few weeks only. Since the factitious use of mineral corticoids is not taken into account, the need of an accurate collection of case history in the differential diagnosis of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism with hypokalemia is stressed.