Primary aldosteronism is an important cause of secondary hypertension with the prevalence of 10%-20% in hypertensive patients. Compared with essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism patients have more cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. In this article, we will make a discussion on the development and current situation of primary aldosteronism by means of its prevalence, case detection, case confirmation, subtype classification, treatment and basic research. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 717-720)

Primary aldosteronism; Ratio of aldosterone to plasma renin activity; Saline infusion test; Captopril challenge test; Bilateral adrenal venous sampling; Spironolactone; KCNJ5 gene