Liddle Syndrome (Pseudoaldosteronism)
Basics
Description
- Autosomal dominant (AD) disorder characterized by early-onset hypertension associated with hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, suppressed plasma renin activity, and aldosterone levels
- Mutation of β- or γ-subunit of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) located in the distal nephron results in gain of function mutation of ENaC and the following:
- Excess sodium reabsorption
- Increased urinary potassium excretion
- Suppressed renin and aldosterone levels
- Secondary hypertension
- Resistant to conventional treatment including mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolactone, eplerenone) but responsive to ENaC inhibitor (amiloride, triamterene)
Epidemiology
Incidence
Unknown
Prevalence
- Unknown, rare
- May be underrecognized due to variable expressivity
- Described in populations worldwide
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- The ENaC is a cell membrane–bound ion channel that is permeable to sodium (Na+) ion. In the kidney, it is expressed in the apical membrane of principal cells and controls sodium reabsorption at the cortical collecting duct (CCD) and is regulated by aldosterone.
- ENaC is composed of three subunits: α, β, and γ.
- Under normal condition, ENaC is degraded by ubiquitin proteasome or NEDD4.
- Mutations in β- or γ-subunit make ENaC unrecognizable by NEDD4 and result in decreased degradation and removal of ENaC from the cell membrane, causing an overactivity of ENaC (gain of function mutation).
- Net result: excessive reabsorption of sodium, which leads to volume expanded hypertension and suppression of renin and aldosterone
- Mineralocorticoid antagonists are therefore ineffective.
- Hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis develop in response to reabsorption of sodium in exchange for potassium and hydrogen ions secretion. These findings are, however, variable.
Genetics
- Monogenic AD inheritance with high penetrance but variable expressivity
- Children of affected parents have a 50% chance of inheriting disease allele.
- Mutation in SCNN1B or SCNN1G genes encoding for β- or γ-subunit of ENaC located on chromosome 16p12
Risk Factors
Family history of first-degree relative with onset of hypertension at young age. Sporadic cases have also been reported.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Liddle Syndrome (Pseudoaldosteronism)." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688536/0.0/Liddle_Syndrome__Pseudoaldosteronism_.
Liddle Syndrome (Pseudoaldosteronism). In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688536/0.0/Liddle_Syndrome__Pseudoaldosteronism_. Accessed December 12, 2024.
Liddle Syndrome (Pseudoaldosteronism). (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688536/0.0/Liddle_Syndrome__Pseudoaldosteronism_
Liddle Syndrome (Pseudoaldosteronism) [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 12]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688536/0.0/Liddle_Syndrome__Pseudoaldosteronism_.
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