Bartter's syndrome in a 74-year-old woman: response to anti-inflammatory agents.

The occurrence of Bartter's syndrome is described in a 74-year-old woman with a fractured hip. She showed hypokalemia and elevated levels of plasma renin and aldosterone. Only with difficulty did large doses of potassium supplementation raise the serum potassium level. After discontinuation of the exogenous potassium, there was a good response to treatment with anti-inflammatory agents such as indomethacin and aspirin.