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Familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) is the heritable form of primary aldosteronism (PA) which comprises three identified subtypes to date: FH type I (FH-I) characterized by early-onset hypertension, glucocorticoid remediable adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent hyperaldosteronism, variable hypokalemia, and overproduction of 18-oxocortisol and 18-hydroxycortisol; FH type II (FH-II) characterized by hypertension of varying severity and hyperaldosteronism not suppressible by dexamethasone; and FH type III (FH-III) characterized by profound hypokalemia, early-onset severe hypertension, non glucocorticoid-remediable hyperaldosteronism, and overproduction of 18-oxocortisol and 18-hydroxycortisol.
No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
Age of onset: newborn period.
The phenotypic spectrum of CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy ranges from childhood onset with mild ataxia, learning disabilities, and headaches to adult onset with mild ataxia and decreased vision . Infertility or involuntary childlessness in adulthood has been observed in four adult males [; Authors, personal observation]. Several individuals with psychiatric concerns (depression or psychosis) and/or auditory abnormalities including mild hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo have been observed. Other medical concerns occurring in a few individuals may be rare parts of the phenotype or unrelated findings. The disease course has been reported as stable to slowly progressive; considering that adults were previously normal, extremely slow progression is most likely. All individuals reported to date have remained ambulatory. The oldest known individual with CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy is age 70 years. No disease-related deaths have been reported to date. To date, 31 individuals have been identified with biallelic pathogenic variants in CLCN2 [; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Authors, personal observation]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports and personal observations. Table 2. CLCN2-related Leukoencephalopathy: Frequency of Select Features
CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy should be suspected in individuals with the following findings and family history.
Clinical findings
Mild ataxia
Mild cognitive impairment
Psychiatric symptoms
No approved treatments are currently available for familial hyperaldosteronism. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
No clinical practice guidelines for CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy have been published. Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 4. Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy
Table 6. Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy
System/Concern |
|---|
No clinical trials have been registered for familial hyperaldosteronism.
111 publications have been identified in PubMed for familial hyperaldosteronism. Research spans Review / Meta-Analysis (29%), Basic Science / Preclinical (28%), and Case Report / Case Series (12%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Research summaries | 28 | 29% |
Data assembled from 4 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 12:59 PM UTC
European rare disease database
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Feature | # of Personswith Feature1 | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Mild cerebellar ataxia | 18/30 | — |
Mild spasticity | 2/29 | — |
Mild cognitive impairment | 14/28 | — |
Psychiatric symptoms | 7/29 | Incl depression psychosis/schizophrenia-like symptoms |
Headache | 12/28 | — |
Decreased vision | 8/25 | Incl retinopathy optic atrophy; blindness double vision may occur. |
Auditory abnormalities | 8/29 | Incl (mild) hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness |
Male fertility problems | 4/4 | Not all affected males have been assessed for infertility. Involuntary childlessness in adult males was included in this category. 1. Motor skills. Initial motor development is normal. |
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
Decreased vision caused by chorioretinopathy or optic atrophy
Auditory symptoms including hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo
Male infertility caused by oligo-/azoospermia
Imaging findings on brain MRI
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
The differential diagnosis of the MRI findings of bilateral symmetric signal abnormalities of the middle cerebellar peduncles and variable signal abnormalities in the brain stem and cerebellar and cerebral white matter includes the disorders summarized in . All disorders in can be differentiated from CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy by the MRI findings mentioned and the diagnosis can be confirmed by appropriate biochemical and/or genetic testing. Table 3. Differential Diagnosis of MRI Findings Seen in CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy
Gene | DiffDx Disorder | MOI | Clinical Features | Key Brain MRI Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ABCD1 | Adrenomyeloneuropathy (See X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy.) | XL | Most commonly manifests in late 20s w/progressive paraparesis, sphincter disturbances, sexual dysfunction, often impaired adrenocortical function. All features progress over decades. | Primary MRI finding: spinal cord atrophy1 ATP7B |
Wilson disease | AR | May present w/hepatic, neurologic, or psychiatric disturbances (or a combination of these) in persons age 3 yrs to 50 yrs. Kayser-Fleischer rings resulting from copper deposition in Descemet's membrane of the cornea are frequently present. | Abnormalities are highly variable, mostly involve basal ganglia may involve brain stem, but w/configuration different from that of CLCN2L CYP27A1 | — |
Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis | AR | Infantile-onset diarrhea, childhood-onset cataract, adolescent- to young adult-onset tendon xanthomas, adult-onset progressive neurologic dysfunction w/dementia, psychiatric disturbances, pyramidal /or cerebellar signs, dystonia, atypical parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathy, seizures. | Most important earliest MRI abnormalities: signal abnormalities in the dentate nucleus cerebellar hemispheric white matter2 DARS2 | — |
Leukoencephalopathy w/brain stem spinal cord abnormalities lactate elevation | AR | Slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia spasticity w/dorsal column dysfunction. Deterioration of motor skills usually starts in childhood or adolescence, but occasionally in adulthood. | MRI invariably shows spinal cord signal abnormalities over its entire length.3 | — |
FMR1 | Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (See FMR1 Disorders.) | XL | Late-onset, progressive cerebellar ataxia intention tremor followed by cognitive impairment. Typical onset: age 60-65 yrs. | — |
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for familial hyperaldosteronism has been reported in the published literature.
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Motor skill issues (cerebellar ataxia gait instability) | Neurologic exam; brain MRI; PT/OT assessment | — |
Mild learning problems w/potential for cognitive decline | Baseline cognitive skill assessment | — |
Vision concerns | Ophthalmologic exam | Attn to visual acuity visual fields |
Hearing loss | Audiologic exam | — |
Male infertility | Eval of testicular function (in adult males) | Genetic |
counseling | By genetics professionals1 | To inform affected persons their families re nature, MOI, implications of CLCN2L to facilitate medical personal decision making CLCN2L = CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy; MOI = mode of inheritance; OT = occupational therapy; PT = physical therapy 1. |
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency Motor skill dysfunction |
learning disability | Neurologic exam | Annual Brain MRI |
Visual impairment | Ophthalmologic exam | Every 2-3 years |
Hearing loss | Audiologic assessment | Every 2-3 years It is appropriate to clarify the genetic status of older and younger sibs of a proband in order to identify as early as possible those who would benefit from early diagnosis and routine surveillance for motor, cognitive, vision, and hearing impairment. |
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
View trials for familial hyperaldosteronism
Evaluation
Frequency |
|---|
learning disability | Neurologic exam | Annual Brain MRI |
Visual impairment | Ophthalmologic exam | Every 2-3 years |
Hearing loss | Audiologic assessment | Every 2-3 years |
Source: GeneReviews — "CLCN2-Related Leukoencephalopathy"
Estimated prevalence: Unknown (Unknown prevalence).
27 |
28% |
Patient case studies | 12 | 12% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 11 | 11% |
Disease patterns and progression | 10 | 10% |
Other research | 4 | 4% |
Clinical study results | 3 | 3% |
New treatment approaches | 2 | 2% |
Feng Z (2026). [PMID: 41790412](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41790412/). *Jpn J Radiol*. [Diagnostic / Biomarker]
Iwahashi N (2026). [PMID: 41140167](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41140167/). *Hypertension*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Berber M (2026). [PMID: 41591811](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41591811/). *J Clin Invest*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Parra Ramírez P (2026). [PMID: 41638802](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41638802/). *Vitam Horm*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Cruchon K (2026). [PMID: 41540863](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41540863/). *Rev Med Suisse*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Vaqueiro Graña M (2026). [PMID: 40569305](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40569305/). *Pediatr Nephrol*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Blinder AR (2026). [PMID: 41618603](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41618603/). *Eur J Endocrinol*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Li R (2026). [PMID: 41403024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41403024/). *Eur J Endocrinol*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Shapiro I (2026). [PMID: 41528016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41528016/). *Endocr Relat Cancer*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Bouys L (2026). [PMID: 41876309](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41876309/). *Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
AI-curated news mentioning familial hyperaldosteronism
Updated May 13, 2026
Recent research sheds light on the connections between resistant hypertension, hyperaldosteronism, and hypercortisolism, enhancing the understanding of these conditions. This emerging knowledge could inform future therapeutic strategies and patient management.