Bartter syndrome

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Aldosterone level test

Potassium wasting

This disease usually occurs in childhood. Symptoms include muscle cramping and weakness, constipation, increased frequency of urination, and growth failure.

The diagnosis of Bartter syndrome is usually made by finding low levels of potassium in the blood. The potassium level is usually less than 2.5 mEq/L. Other signs of this syndrome include:

• Normal blood pressure
• Low blood chloride
• Metabolic alkalosis
• High levels of the hormones renin and aldosterone in the blood
• High levels of potassium, calcium, and chloride in the urine

These same signs and symptoms can also occur in people who have taken too many diuretics or laxatives. Urine tests can be done to rule out these causes.

In Bartter syndrome, a biopsy of the kidney typically shows overgrowth of kidney cells called the juxtaglomerular apparatus. However, this is not found in all patients, especially in young children.

Review Date: 11/16/2006
Reviewed By: David M. Charytan, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.