Project description:ContextAutonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) has a relatively high prevalence in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). There is still a lack of relevant studies to analyze the influence of ACS on diagnosing and managing PA.ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of ACS on image-adrenal venous sampling (AVS) correlation and the postoperative results.MethodsThis was a retrospective study using the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation database from July 2017 to April 2020, with 327 PA patients enrolled. A total of 246 patients were included in the image-AVS analysis. Patients who had undergone unilateral adrenalectomy and a 12-month follow-up were included in the postoperative analysis.ResultsSixty-five patients (26.4%) had ACS. The image-AVS discordance rate was higher in the ACS group compared to the non-ACS group (75.4% (n = 49) vs 56.4% (n = 102); odds ratio (OR) = 2.37 (CI: 1.26-4.48); P = 0.007). The complete biochemical success rate was higher in the non-ACS group than that in the ACS group (98.1% (n = 51) vs 64.3% (n = 9); OR = 28.333 (CI: 2.954-271.779); P = 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, ACS was the only factor associated with lower biochemical success (OR = 0.035 (CI: 0.004-0.339), P = 0.004).ConclusionPA patients with ACS have higher image-AVS discordance rate and worse biochemical outcomes after surgery. ACS was the only negative predictor of postoperative biochemical outcomes. Further studies and novel biomarkers for AVS are crucial for obtaining better postoperative outcomes in PA patients with ACS.
Project description:The clinical characteristics and surgical prognosis of glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA, also known as familial hyperaldosteronism type 1, FH-I) have not been widely studied. Using data from the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) registry retrospectively, we describe the associated clinical factors for GRA and clinical predictors of surgical outcomes among identified GRA patients. We found 79 GRA-positive (51.2 ± 13.8 years; women 39 (49.4%)) and 114 GRA-negative primary aldosteronism (PA) patients matched with age, gender, and body mass index. Lower plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) and aldosterone-renin ratios were found among GRA-positive individuals. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that a PAC ≤ 40 ng/dL could predict concealed GRA individuals (OR 0.523, p = 0.037). Low serum potassium (OR 0.285, p = 0.008), but not the presence of GRA, was associated with hypertension-remission. Of note, PRA (OR 11.645, p = 0.045) and hypokalemia (OR 0.133, p = 0.048) were associated with hypertension-remission in GRA patients. Unilateral primary aldosteronism patients harboring concomitant GRA were not associated with inferior hypertension-remission after an adrenalectomy. Low serum potassium and high PRA were positively associated with hypertension-remission in GRA patients.
Project description:Treatment of choice in patients with unilateral aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) is adrenalectomy. Following surgery, most patients retain normal adrenal function, while some develop adrenal insufficiency (AI). To facilitate early detection and treatment of AI, we aimed to identify variables measured pre-operatively that are associated with post-operative AI. Variables obtained from 66 patients before and after surgery included anthropometrical data, clinical chemistry, endocrine work-up. LC-MS/MS steroid hormone profiles from tests before surgery (ACTH-stimulation, saline infusion, dexamethasone suppression) were obtained. Based on 78 variables, machine-learning methods were used in model fitting for classification and regression to predict ACTH-stimulated cortisol after surgery. Among the 78 variables, insulin concentration during pre-operative oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) correlated positively, and dexamethasone suppressed glucocorticoids correlated negatively with ACTH-stimulated cortisol after surgery. Inclusion of LC-MS/MS measurements allowed construction of better models associated with the occurrence of AI in the training data, but did not allow reliable prediction in cross-validation. Our results suggest that glucocorticoid co-secretion (low insulin during pre-operative OGTT and insufficient suppression of glucocorticoids following dexamethasone) are correlated with the development of post-operative AI. Addition of steroid profiles improved the accuracy of prediction, but cross validation revealed lack of reliability in the prediction of AI.
Project description:ObjectiveThe burden of symptoms and treatment in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), as well as the patients' experience of the health care is sparsely studied. The objectives of this study were to describe symptoms considered to be the most troublesome by patients with PA, and to explore health related worries and expectations following treatment.MethodsThis was an explorative qualitative study where 25 patients with PA, diagnosed between 2017 and 2019, were included; 13 patients who had undergone adrenalectomy and 12 who were receiving medical treatment. Data was collected during six group interviews and analyzed using a thematic approach.ResultsThree main themes were identified: 1) Distress of the past, where the most important issues were struggle to receive a correct diagnosis, impaired well-being and the consumption of a large number of tablets, 2) Satisfaction after receiving a correct diagnosis, both in patients with unilateral and bilateral disease, but also dissatisfaction with lack of information about the disease, and 3) Future concerns, where worries about the long-term effects of PA on health in general dominated.ConclusionsOur findings illustrate several important issues related to PA where improvements in patient care are needed, including actions aiming at shortening the long diagnostic delay, a thorough information to the patients about the disease is of great importance, and that all patients with PA, regardless of treatment, would benefit from a structured long-term follow-up.
Project description:Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension caused by excessive and inappropriate secretion of the hormone aldosterone from one or both adrenal glands. The prevalence of PA ranges from 10% in the general hypertensive population to 20% in resistant hypertension, yet only a small fraction of patients is diagnosed. Disease and symptom recognition, screening in indicated populations, multidisciplinary communication, and appropriate imaging and biochemical workup can identify patients who might benefit from effective and targeted treatment modalities. Effective treatments available include both surgical and medical approaches, usually dependent on the subtype of PA present. Our collective understanding of the pathophysiology of PA is expanded by recent developments in molecular biology and genetics, including understanding the specific somatic and germline mutations involved in pathogenesis. We review the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and treatment considerations for this disease process.
Project description:Excess aldosterone secretion in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) impairs their cardiovascular system. Heart rhythm complexity analysis, derived from heart rate variability (HRV), is a powerful tool to quantify the complex regulatory dynamics of human physiology. We prospectively analyzed 20 patients with aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) that underwent adrenalectomy and 25 patients with essential hypertension (EH). The heart rate data were analyzed by conventional HRV and heart rhythm complexity analysis including detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE). We found APA patients had significantly decreased DFAα2 on DFA analysis and decreased area 1-5, area 6-15, and area 6-20 on MSE analysis (all p < 0.05). Area 1-5, area 6-15, area 6-20 in the MSE study correlated significantly with log-transformed renin activity and log-transformed aldosterone-renin ratio (all p < = 0.01). The conventional HRV parameters were comparable between PA and EH patients. After adrenalectomy, all the altered DFA and MSE parameters improved significantly (all p < 0.05). The conventional HRV parameters did not change. Our result suggested that heart rhythm complexity is impaired in APA patients and this is at least partially reversed by adrenalectomy.
Project description:The authors report a case of primary aldosteronism (PA) with postoperative elevation of aldosterone treated effectively by finerenone. The patient was a hypertensive man with a 30-year history of hypertension and sustained an acute myocardial infarction 5 years ago. Bilateral adrenal nodules with hyperplasia were detected and PA was confirmed. His blood potassium, direct renin concentration, and aldosterone level returned to normal after surgery of right adrenalectomy. However, 1 year after surgery, he experienced a decrease in blood potassium and an increase in aldosterone. A saline infusion test revealed an aldosterone level of 124.47 pg/mL. The patient consented to treatment with finerenone. His aldosterone and potassium levels and blood pressure have been controlled well during follow-up. This case highlights the need to screen for secondary hypertension as early as possible. Finerenone may be effective for patients with PA who are not candidates for surgery and those not relieved after surgery.
Project description:BackgroundThe interaction between hyperaldosteronism and immune dysfunction has been reported and glucocorticoid co-secretion is frequently found in primary aldosteronism (PA). The aforementioned conditions raise the possibility of the infection risk; however, clinical episodes of sepsis have not been reported in PA.MethodsUsing Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2009, we identified PA and aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) matched with essential hypertension (EH) at a 1:1 ratio by propensity scores. The incidences of sepsis and mortality after the index date were evaluated, and the risk factors of outcomes were identified using adjusted Cox proportional hazards models and taking mortality as a competing risk.ResultsWe enrolled 2448 patients with PA (male, 46.08%; mean age, 48.4 years). There were 875 patients who could be ascertained as APA. Taking mortality as the competing risk, APA patients had a lower incidence of sepsis than their matched EH patients (hazard ratio (HR) 0.29; P < 0.001) after target treatments. Patients receiving adrenalectomy showed a benefit of decreasing the risk of sepsis (PA vs EH, HR 0.14, P = 0.001; APA vs EH, HR 0.16, P = 0.003), but mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment may differ. Compared with matched control cohorts, patients with APA had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (PA, adjusted HR 0.84, P = 0.050; APA, adjusted HR 0.31, P < 0.001) after target treatments.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that patients with PA/APA who underwent adrenalectomy could attenuate the risk of sepsis compared with their matched EH patients. We further found that APA patients with target treatments could decrease all-cause mortality compared with EH patients.
Project description:ContextAldosterone has been shown to exert a central sympathoexcitatory action in multiple animal models, but evidence in humans is still lacking.ObjectivesOur objective was to determine whether hyperaldosteronism causes reversible sympathetic activation in humans.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional comparison of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (SNA, intraneural microelectrodes) in 14 hypertensive patients with biochemically proven primary aldosteronism (PA) with 20 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 18 age-matched normotensive (NT) controls. Seven patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) were restudied 1 month after unilateral adrenalectomy.ResultsMean blood pressure values in patients with PA and EH and NT controls was 145 ± 4/88 ± 2, 150 ± 4/90 ± 2, and 119 ± 2/76 ± 2 mm Hg, respectively. The major new findings are 2-fold: 1) baseline SNA was significantly higher in the PA than the NT group (40 ± 3 vs. 30 ± 2 bursts/min, P = 0.014) but similar to the EH group (41 ± 3 bursts/min) and 2) after unilateral adrenalectomy for APA, SNA decreased significantly from 38 ± 5 to 27 ± 4 bursts/min (P = 0.01), plasma aldosterone levels fell from 72.4 ± 20.3 to 11.4 ± 2.3 ng/dl (P < 0.01), and blood pressure decreased from 155 ± 8/94 ± 3 to 117 ± 4/77 ± 2 mm Hg (P < 0.01).ConclusionThese data provide the first evidence in humans that APA is accompanied by reversible sympathetic overactivity, which may contribute to the accelerated hypertensive target organ disease in this condition.