Gitelman′s syndrome (report of 2 cases)

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of Gitelman′s syndrome, and the differentiation of Gitelman′s syndrome from Bartter′s syndrome. Methods Clinical data of 2 patients diagnosed as Gitelman′s syndrome were retrospectively analysed. Results The symptoms of both patients appeared at adult age, their main manifestation included hypokalaemic alkalosis, hyperreninemia and juxtaglomerular apparatus hyperplasia with normal blood pressure, hypocalciuria and hypomagnesemia, then the diagnosis of Gitelman′s syndrome was established. Potassium and magnesium supplementation ameliorated one patient′s symptom. Another patient treated with indomethacin, serum potassium was recovered to normal level. Conclusion Gitelman′s syndrome and Bartter′s syndrome appear to be similar in the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation and prognosis, but still show some differences, Gitelman′s syndrome should be carefully differentiated from Bartter′s syndrome.