Association of Bartter's syndrome and empty sella

Bartter's syndrome is characterized by hypochloremia, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis associated with renal potassium leakage, and normal blood pressure despite increased plasma renin activity. Although association of empty sella with Gitelman syndrome has been reported, no association has been reported with Bartter's syndrome. Here we report a patient with Bartter's syndrome and empty sella. A 12 month-old male patient presented with a history of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, constipation, and edema in the lower extremities that had begun in the early postnatal period. The patient was born at 32 weeks gestation by operative delivery for polyhydramnios. Blood pressure was normal. Serum sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, chloride, albumin and alkaline phosphatase levels were 129 mEq/l, 2.5 mEq/l, 9 mg/dl, 3.8 mg/dl, 72 mg/dl, 4.2 g/dl and 1285 IU/l, respectively. Serum magnesium level was normal. Arterial blood gas levels revealed pH 7.55 (normal, 7.35-7.45), PCO2 33.6 mm/Hg (36-46), base excess +7.1 (+/- 2.3), and total CO2 33.6 mmol/l (23-27). Renin and aldosterone levels were elevated. Urine had pH 8.0 and specific gravity 1.010. Urinary calcium excretion was 22.8 kg/day (urine calcium/creatinine ratio 0.46). Urinary potassium and chloride levels were elevated. MRI of the brain was normal except for partially empty sella. We present the first pediatric patient with the association of Bartter's syndrome and empty sella.