Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify five cases with using licorice that admitted to our clinic with the diagnosis of secondary hypertension, to share clinical and biochemical status of the patients.. We wanted to discuss to the pathogenesis of hypertension and hypokalemia due to more frequent drinking licorice drink which is widely used in the eastern, south-eastern and Mediterranean regions of our country Turkey Materials and Methods: 5 cases (2 female, 3 male) which admitted to our clinic with the diagnosis of secondary hypertension, between January 2011 and May 2013 with using licorice were included. Patients' complaints, electrolyte levels, acid-base balance status, plasma renin-aldosterone levels, adrenal imaging results (adrenal computed tomography) were measured and recorded before and after treatment of hypertension.Results: The patients were 3 men and 2 women. The average age of the patients was 54.20 ± 17.29 years. All the patients were using antihypertensive treatment before being admitted to the hospital. Adrenal images were normal in all patients. All of the patients serum aldosterone-renin and potassium levels were lower than normal ranges and had metabolic alkalosis.Conclusion: When we evaluate the patients with clinical features according to mineralocorticoid excess (hypertension, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis), we have to be questioned. a rare case of long-term and frequent drinking licorice drink, which is in using alternative medicine to treat some kind of diseases,

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