Abstract
An endocrine contribution to high blood pressure (BP) may be present in more than 12% of all cases of hypertension, even in the absence of suggestive signs, symptoms, or biochemical abnormalities. Certain features in company with raised BP (skin changes, body habitus, hypokalemia, diabetes, sweating, headaches, palpitations, and changes in temperature tolerance and bowel habit) should trigger consideration of inherited or acquired causes of endocrine hypertension, including primary aldosteronism, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, renin-producing tumor, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and hyperparathyroidism. Adrenal incidentalomas are commonly found and require assessment for malignancy and possible hormone hyperfunction. Any cause of endocrine hypertension may have alerting symptoms and/or signs, but all require a specific diagnostic algorithm and specific therapy. Diagnosis frequently offers the chance of cure (with avoidance of severe morbidity or even death), with therapies that address other elements of the disease beyond control of hypertension.