Metabolic Syndrome Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Mar 30, 2020
  • Author: Stanley S Wang, JD, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Yasmine S Ali, MD, MSCI, FACC, FACP  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Additional diagnoses should be considered for each of the criteria used to identify patients with metabolic syndrome. For example, in patients with hypertension, investigation for secondary causes, such as obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders, renovascular disease, or disorders of renin and aldosterone metabolism may be warranted under appropriate circumstances.

Patients with dyslipidemia in the setting of a strong family history of dyslipidemia may be manifesting hereditary disease. Alternative causes of hyperglycemia may include not only diabetes mellitus but also thyroid dysfunction and rarer endocrinopathies, such as glucagonomas and pheochromocytomas.