OR34-04 Efficiency of Adrenal Venous Sampling in the Treatment Choice of Primary Aldosteronism (AVSTAT Study)

BACKGROUND: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is strongly recommended for a subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) if adrenalectomy (ADX) is desired by the patient. Given various issues related to AVS such as technical demand, invasive nature, expensive cost and radiation exposure, AVS is expected to lead efficiently to the subtype diagnosis and ADX. Aim: Primary objective was to assess the performance of AVS to determine treatment of PA by investigating the ratio of unilateral disease and rate of ADX following AVS in patients with unilateral disease. Methods: Sixteen major referral centers in ENS@T (n=10) and Japan (n=6) participated in the study. Study period was from 2006 to 2018. Data on total number of PA patients, AVS (total number and number of successful procedures), number of patients with unilateral diseases, and number of patients that underwent ADX were collected by a questionnaire-based survey. In addition, reasons for not proceeding to ADX in patients with a unilateral diagnosis were investigated. The diagnosis of PA was based on the positive case detection and at least one positive result in confirmatory testing. Results: Total number of confirmed PA patients and conducted AVS showed a dramatic increase during the past decade (PA: 1061 pts/ 2006–2011 to 3718 pts/ 2012–2018; AVS: 720/ 2006–2011 to 2448/ 2012–2018). Success rate of AVS was improved from 79.0% (2006–2011) to 92.5% (2012–2018). Both rate of unilateral PA and ADX of successful procedures decreased from 42.7% (2006–2011) to 37.3% (2012–2018) and from 40.8% (2006–2011) to 34.9% (2012–2018), respectively. Of the patients with successful AVS, bilateral disease was diagnosed in 63.5% (1812/2854 pts). Of the unilateral PA patients, 11.9% (125/ 1054 pts) were not subjected to ADX. The rate of the patients not subjected to ADX was significantly higher in Japan than in ENS@T centers both in patients with successful AVS (75.8% vs. 53.4%) and with unilateral disease (19.9% vs. 8.6%). Clinical decision against ADX in unilateral disease was made by the physicians in 33.3%, the patients in 33.3%, and both in 33.3%. Medical factors for Dr.’s decision against ADX in unilateral disease included good blood pressure control, normokalemia, comorbidities (e.g. DM, CKD), non-lateralized CT findings (e.g. no tumor, contralateral tumor), and discordant results among different criteria of AVS.

Conclusions: High prevalence of bilateral disease and change of treatment policy after implementation affected the efficiency of AVS as an essential diagnostic procedure prior to ADX. Development of non-invasive procedures to exclude bilateral PA and more strict indication of AVS are warranted.

SAT-563 The Unsuppressed Plasma Renin Activity May Not Enough for Management of Non-Surgically Treated Primary Aldosteronism

It is well known the primary aldosteronism (PA) is most common endocrinological hypertension and accounted for 10% among all hypertension population, and it develops cardiovascular disease more frequently than blood pressure matched essential hypertension. Those patients with bilateral hyperaldosteronism, called idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), or unwilling for surgical treatment are treated by mineralcorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). Although it had been unclear how titrate MRAs to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, a managemental target for those patients was recently reported as plasma renin activity (PRA) ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr to prevent cardiovascular events (Hundemer GL, et. al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018 Jan;6(1):51-59).

Thus, we investigated 77 cases of adrenal venous sampling performed patients with PA and followed up for 3 years in our hospital since 2007, including 24 males and 53 females, and their mean age was 56.3 ± 12.5 years old. All patients underwent AVS and showed bilateral hyperaldosteronism and treated with MRAs and followed up more than 3 years. We collected blood pressure, serum sodium and potassium concentration, estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFR), PRA, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), atherosclerotic parameter, such as mean intima media thickness (IMT), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). We evaluated the relationship of those patients’ PRA and aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) with eGFR, IMT, baPWV, and ABI. The change of mean IMT after 3 year-follow up were 0.03 ± 0.11 mm vs. 0.06 ± 0.09 mm for well controlled (PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr) and poorly controlled (PRA < 1.0 ng/ml/hr), respectively, and no significant difference between them. In the other hand, the change of mean IMT after 3 year-follow up showed 0.03 ± 0.10 mm vs. 0.08 ± 0.10 mm for well controlled (PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr and ARR <20) and poorly controlled (PRA < 1.0 ng/ml/hr or ARR ≥ 20), respectively, and the mean IMT increase was significantly lower in this group.

The mean IMT increase showed significantly lower only with PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr and ARR <20 rather than PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr alone.

In our results, both PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr and ARR<20 are important to prevent or improve atherosclerosis, rather than only PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr and should be titrated MRAs to achieve this target.

In conclusion, our result revealed the titration of MRAs is important to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular event and not only PRA ≥ 1.0 ng/ml/hr, but both PRA and ARR <20 should be achieved.

Effect of cosyntropin during adrenal venous sampling on subtype of primary aldosteronism: analysis of surgical outcome

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the clinical significance of ACTH stimulation during adrenal venous sampling (AVS) by surgical outcome of primary aldosteronism (PA).

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective study by Japan PA study.

METHOD

We allocated 314 patients with both basal and ACTH-stimulated AVS data who underwent adrenalectomy to three groups: basal lateralization index (LI) ≥2 with ACTH-stimulated LI ≥4 on the ipsilateral side (Unilateral (U) to U group, n = 245); basal LI <2 with ACTH-stimulated LI ≥4 (Bilateral (B) to U group, n = 15); and basal LI ≥2 with ACTH-stimulated LI <4 (U to B group, n = 54). We compared surgical outcomes among the groups using the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome (PASO) criteria.

RESULTS

Compared with U to U group, U to B group had poor clinical and biochemical outcomes and low rates of adrenal adenoma as pathological findings (P = 0.044, 0.006, and 0.048, respectively), although there were no significant differences between U to U and B to U groups. All patients in U to B group with clinical and biochemical benefits, however, had adrenal adenoma as pathological findings and could be well differentiated from those with poor surgical outcomes via basal LI (>8.3), but not ACTH-stimulated LI. These results were similar even when we defined each group based on a cut-off value of 4 for basal LI.

CONCLUSIONS

Although PA patients in U to B group had worse surgical outcomes than did those in U to U group, basal LI could discriminate among patients with better surgical outcomes in U to B group.

A nationwide survey of adrenal incidentalomas in Japan: the first report of clinical and epidemiological features

The aim of this study was to reveal clear epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of incidentally discovered adrenal masses, termed adrenal incidentalomas (AIs), and to establish appropriate managemental and therapeutic regimens in Japan. This study had been originally carried out as a project of a research proposed on behalf of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, from 1999 to 2004. This nationwide multicenter study on AIs included 3,672 cases with clinically diagnosed AIs, involving 1,874 males and 1,738 females, with mean age 58.1 ± 13.0 years (mean ± SD). In the present study, we focused on the investigation of the real prevalence of various adrenal disorders with AI. The mean nodule size of AI based on computed tomography was 3.0 ± 2.0 cm. Compared to non-functioning adenomas (NFAs), tumor diameters were significantly larger in adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs), pheochromocytomas, cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs), myelolipomas, metastatic tumors, cysts, and ganglioneuromas (p < 0.01). Endocrinological evaluations demonstrated that 50.8% of total AIs were non-functioning adenomas, while 10.5%, including 3.6% with subclinical Cushing's syndrome, were reported as CPAs, 8.5% as pheochromocytomas, and 5.1% as aldosterone-producing adenomas. ACCs were accounted for 1.4% (50 cases) among our series of AIs. In conclusion, while almost 50 % of AIs are non-functional adenomas, we must be particularly careful as AIs include pheochromocytomas or adrenal carcinomas, because they may be asymptomatic. To our knowledge, this is the first and the largest investigation of AI, thus providing basic information for the establishment of clinical guidelines for the management of AI.

Basal Plasma Aldosterone Concentration Predicts Therapeutic Outcomes in Primary Aldosteronism

Purpose

Normal basal plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) reflects mild aldosterone excess compared to high basal PAC. We previously reported lower risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and normal basal PAC (nPA) than in those with high basal PAC (hPA). However, the differences in therapeutic outcomes between nPA and hPA are unclear. The aim of this multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study was to determine the clinical significance of nPA to therapeutic outcomes, including adrenalectomy (ADX) and treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs).

Methods

A total of 1146 patients with PA who were diagnosed and underwent adrenal venous sampling (AVS) between January 2006 and October 2016 were enrolled. The clinical parameters at baseline and after ADX or treatment with MRA were compared between the nPA and hPA groups.

Results

Significantly higher rates of absent clinical success (36.6 vs. 21.9%, P = 0.01) and absent biochemical success (26.4 vs. 5.2%, P < 0.01) were found for the nPA group than for the hPA group, respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified baseline PAC as a significant independent predictor of absent clinical success of ADX and MRAs.

Conclusions

Plasma aldosterone concentration at baseline was a significant and independent predictor of absent clinical success of ADX and MRA. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment appeared to be a better therapeutic choice than ADX in the nPA group.

Effect of High β-glucan Barley on Postprandial Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The aim of our study was to investigate whether high β-glucan-containing barley (7.2 g per 100 g) improves postprandial plasma glucose levels and suppresses postprandial insulin levels during a meal tolerance test in type 2 diabetic patients. A meal tolerance test (500 kcal) was conducted using two types of test meals: a test meal with white rice (WR) alone (WR diet) and a test meal with WR mixed with 50% barley (BR diet) as staple food. The side dish was the same in the both meals. The changes in plasma glucose and serum C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) levels for 180 minutes after ingestion of the test meals were compared. Ten patients with type 2 diabetes (age 52.5 ± 15.1 years, and 7 males and 3 females) were included in this study. The mean HbA1c level and body mass index were 8.8 ± 1.4%, and 29.7 ± 4.5 kg/m², respectively. Plasma glucose levels after ingestion of the WR diet or BR diet peaked at 60 minutes, which showed no significant differences between the two types of test meals. However, the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) of plasma glucose levels after ingestion of BR diet was significantly lower than that of WR diet. The serum CPR levels at 180 min and their IAUC over 180 minutes after ingestion of BR diet were significantly lower than those of WR diet. Conclusion: Increase in postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels was suppressed by mixing high-β-glucan barley with WR in type 2 diabetic patients.

Efficacy of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin on cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective, randomized study (DIVERSITY-CVR)

Background

Few prospective studies have compared the cardiovascular benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. We aimed to clarify the efficacy of dapagliflozin versus sitagliptin for modulating cardiometabolic risk factors including high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, hypoglycemia, and body weight.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group trial enrolled 340 Japanese patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes receiving metformin alone or no glucose-lowering agents, who were randomized to receive dapagliflozin or sitagliptin for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved the composite endpoint of HbA1c level maintenance < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol), avoidance of hypoglycemia (maintenance of sensor glucose ≥ 3.0 mmol/L or ≥ 54 mg/dL), and ≥ 3.0% body weight loss from baseline. Secondary endpoints included components of the primary endpoint, other metabolic indices, and glucose variability indices measured using flash glucose monitoring.

Results

Clinical characteristics of patients were age, 58.1 ± 12.2 years; known duration of diabetes, 5.8 ± 6.1 years; body weight, 74.7 ± 14.2 kg; body mass index, 27.9 ± 4.1 kg/m²; and HbA1c level, 7.8 ± 0.8% at baseline. The achievement ratio of primary endpoint was significantly higher in the dapagliflozin group than in the sitagliptin group (24.4% vs. 13.8%, P < 0.05). While the rates of HbA1c level maintenance < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) and avoidance of hypoglycemia were comparable between the groups (49.4 vs. 50.0% and 88.7 vs. 92.3% for dapagliflozin vs. sitagliptin, respectively), body weight loss of ≥ 3.0% was significantly achieved in the dapagliflozin group (54.4 vs. 19.6%, P < 0.001). Moreover, dapagliflozin was superior to sitagliptin regarding several secondary endpoints that modulate cardiometabolic risk, namely reducing fasting plasma glucose, insulin, uric acid, increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and suppressing the increase in serum creatinine and the decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate. On the other hand, sitagliptin was superior to dapagliflozin in suppressing glucose variability.

Conclusions

Compared to sitagliptin, dapagliflozin was significantly more effective at improving cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors might be more suitable than DPP-4 inhibitors for preventing cardiovascular events in patients with early-stage but inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

Trial registration Trial number, UMIN000028014; registered on June 30, 2017

Latent Autonomous Cortisol Secretion From Apparently Nonfunctioning Adrenal Tumor in Nonlateralized Hyperaldosteronism

CONTEXT

Adrenal tumors (ATs), even those diagnosed as nonfunctioning, may cause metabolic disorders. Some primary aldosteronism (PA) patients with ATs are diagnosed with bilateral PA based on adrenal venous sampling (AVS), and their ATs are apparently nonfunctioning.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the influence of apparently nonfunctioning ATs, we compared hormone levels and clinical complications between bilateral PA cases with and without ATs.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

After retrospectively assessing 2814 patients with PA in the multicenter Japan PA study, bilateral PA cases on AVS were divided into cases with and without ATs by computed tomography findings. Importantly, patients with cortisol levels >1.8 µg/dL after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were excluded. Clinical characteristics and biochemical data were compared between them. The correlation between AT size and hormone levels was also analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Analyzed were 196 bilateral PA patients with ATs and 331 those without ATs. Although basal cortisol and aldosterone levels were similar between them, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and the prevalences of diabetes mellitus and proteinuria were significantly higher and ACTH levels and plasma renin activity were significantly lower in cases with ATs than in those without. After adjusting for patients' backgrounds, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and plasma renin activity remained significantly different between them. Moreover, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and ACTH levels correlated with AT size.

CONCLUSIONS

Apparently nonfunctioning ATs in bilateral PA cases may cause latent autonomous cortisol secretion, inducing diabetes and proteinuria.

Renal impairment is closely associated with plasma aldosterone concentration in patients with primary aldosteronism

OBJECTIVE

Several clinical studies have reported that renal impairments are sometimes observed in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). We analyzed the prevalence of renal impairments in PA patients and identified parameters that increase the risk for them.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. We assessed the PA database established by the multicenter Japan PA study (JPAS). Data were also collected from patients with essential hypertension (EHT).

METHODS

We compared the prevalences of proteinuria and lowered estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between patients with PA and age, sex, blood pressure and duration of hypertension-matched patients with EHT. We also performed logistic regression analysis to identify parameters that increase the risk for these renal impairments.

RESULTS

Among 2366 PA patients, the prevalences of proteinuria and lowered eGFR were 10.3 and 11.6%, respectively. The prevalence of proteinuria was significantly higher in PA patients than matched-EHT patients (16.8 vs 4.4%), whereas there was no significant difference in the prevalence of lowered eGFR (17.2 vs 15.0%). The logistic regression analysis also showed that the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) significantly increases the risk of proteinuria and lowered eGFR, independent of other known risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Plasma aldosterone levels are closely associated with renal impairment in patients with PA. This is contrast to our earlier finding that the PAC was not itself linearly associated with cardiovascular events such as stroke or ischemic heart disease. The mechanism underlying the kidney damage in patients with PA may differ from that affecting the cardiovascular system.

Predictors of Clinical Success After Surgery for Primary Aldosteronism in the Japanese Nationwide Cohort

Context

Aldosterone-producing adenomas are a curable subtype of primary aldosteronism (PA); however, hypertension persists in some patients after adrenalectomy.

Objective

To identify factors associated with, and develop prediction models for, blood pressure (BP) normalization or improvement after adrenalectomy.

Design

Retrospective analysis of patients treated between 2006 and 2018, with a 6-month follow-up.

Setting

A nationwide, 29-center Japanese registry encompassing 15 university hospitals and 14 city hospitals.

Patients

We categorized 574 participants in the Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study, who were diagnosed with PA and underwent adrenalectomy, as BP normalized or improved, on the basis of their presentations at 6 months postsurgery.

Main Outcome Measure

The rate of complete, partial, and absent clinical success. Predictive factors related to BP outcomes after PA surgery were also evaluated.

Results

Complete clinical success was achieved in 32.6% and partial clinical success was achieved in 53.0% of the patients at 6 months postsurgery. The following five variables were independent predictors for BP normalization: ≤7 years of hypertension, body mass index ≤25 kg/m², no more than one antihypertensive medication, absence of medical history of diabetes, and female sex. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.797 in the BP normalization model.

Conclusion

We established models that predicted postoperative BP normalization in patients with PA. These should be useful for shared decision-making regarding adrenalectomy for PA.

Association Between Acute Fall in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate After Treatment for Primary Aldosteronism and Long-Term Decline in Renal Function

Primary aldosteronism causes renal structural damage after glomerular hyperfiltration, and primary aldosteronism-specific treatment leads to an acute fall in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We investigated whether this change affected the long-term eGFR slope in a retrospective cohort from the multicenter Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study. We allocated patients with primary aldosteronism to the adrenalectomy (n=202) and MR (mineralocorticoid receptor) antagonist (n=303) groups based on their treatment history and analyzed the association between the initial eGFR fall and long-term eGFR slope. The increased age, low serum potassium levels, high eGFR, and high plasma aldosterone levels were independent predictors for a large initial eGFR fall in both groups. Our analysis of tertiles based on the initial eGFR fall revealed that in the MR antagonist group, patients with a small initial eGFR fall had a significantly steeper long-term eGFR slope than those with a large initial fall (tertile 1 versus 2, P=0.025; tertile 1 versus 3, P=0.017). These associations were not identified in the adrenalectomy group. Thus, the smaller the acute fall in eGFR by initiation of MR antagonists, the greater was the rate of long-term eGFR decline. While the acute fall in eGFR induced by primary aldosteronism-specific treatment is occasionally a clinical concern, our findings highlight the favorable implications of the acute fall with respect to long-term renal outcomes.

Sex Difference in the Association Between Subtype Distribution and Age at Diagnosis in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent cause of secondary hypertension. Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is an established method for finding patients with the unilateral subtype of PA, for which adrenalectomy is an applicable treatment. In this study, we analyzed a large database of patients with PA who underwent adrenal vein sampling, to investigate the sex differences in the impact of age at diagnosis on the subtype and cause of PA. In 2122 patients, women with the unilateral subtype were younger than men with the same subtype and women with the bilateral subtype. Younger age and older age were associated with unilateral PA in women and men, respectively. After stratification by tertiles of age, there was a trend of decreased and increased incidence of unilateral PA with aging in women and men, respectively. Male sex was a predictor of unilateral PA in middle-aged and older patients but not in younger patients. We also found that obesity, a known factor associated with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism, was positively associated with bilateral PA in younger patients but not in older patients. These findings suggest that the proportion of operable patients with unilateral PA differs depending on the combination of sex and age, and that other than obesity, the cause of PA is also associated with the bilateral subtype in older patients.

Lateralizing Asymmetry of Adrenal Imaging and Adrenal Vein Sampling in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism

Context

In patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), it remains unclear whether aldosterone-producing adenomas are likely to develop in the left or right adrenal gland.

Objective

To investigate left-right differences of PA laterality diagnoses via CT imaging and adrenal vein sampling (AVS).

Design

Retrospective, observational study.

Patients

From the Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study, 1493 patients with PA were enrolled who underwent CT and ACTH-stimulated AVS.

Measurements

Left or right adrenal nodular lesion distribution and laterality observed on CT scans and from AVS were noted.

Results

Both on CT scans and AVS, unilateral results were observed more frequently on the left side than on the right side (25.1% vs 15.4% and 17.3% vs 13.5%, respectively; P < 0.01for both diagnostic techniques). There was no significant difference in the concordance rate for CT and AVS between patients with left and right unilateral nodular lesions observed on CT scans (44.1% and 50.9%, respectively; P = 0.15). In patients with nodules <20 mm, the concordance rate was significantly greater on the right side than the left side (45.8% vs 56.4%; P = 0.03). In patients with bilateral results of AVS, unilateral nodular lesions were detected more frequently on the left side than the right side (17.8% vs 9.4%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

These results suggest aldosterone-producing adenomas and nonfunctioning tumors are more likely to develop on the left side in patients with PA and that misdiagnosis of CT-based lateralization may occur more frequently on the left side.

High Prevalence of Diabetes in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism (PA) Associated With Subclinical Hypercortisolism and Prediabetes More Prevalent in Bilateral Than Unilateral PA: A Large, Multicenter Cohort Study in Japan

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and causes of diabetes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) in a multi-institutional cohort study in Japan.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The prevalence of diabetes was determined in 2,210 patients with PA (diagnosed or glycated hemoglobin [HbA_1c] ≥6.5% [≥48 mmol/mol]; NGSP) and compared with that of the Japanese general population according to age and sex. In 1,386 patients with PA and clear laterality (unilateral or bilateral), the effects of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L), suspected subclinical hypercortisolism (SH; serum cortisol ≥1.8 µg/dL after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test), and PA laterality on the prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes (5.7% ≤ HbA_1c <6.5% [39 mmol/mol ≤ HbA_1c <48 mmol/mol]) were examined.

RESULTS

Of the 2,210 patients with PA, 477 (21.6%) had diabetes. This prevalence is higher than that in the general population (12.1%) or in 10-year cohorts aged 30-69 years. Logistic regression or χ² test revealed a significant contribution of suspected SH to diabetes. Despite more active PA profiles (e.g., higher PAC and lower potassium concentrations) in unilateral than bilateral PA, BMI and HbA_1c values were significantly higher in bilateral PA. PA laterality had no effect on the prevalence of diabetes; however, the prevalence of prediabetes was significantly higher in bilateral than unilateral PA.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with PA have a high prevalence of diabetes, which is associated mainly with SH. The prevalence of prediabetes is greater for bilateral than unilateral PA, suggesting a unique metabolic cause of bilateral PA.

SAT-076 The Effect of Body Mass Index on Diagnosis of Primary Aldosteronism

It is well known the primary aldosteronism (PA) is most common endocrinological hypertension and accounted for 10% among all hypertension population, and it develops cardiovascular disease more frequently than blood pressure matched essential hypertension. Many literatures have been reported patients with obesity often shows hyperaldosteronism by hyperactivation of sympathetic nerves, over secretion from adipocytes themselves, or aldosterone-secreting factors from adipocytes. Thus, we investigated the impact of BMI on diagnosis of PA in this study. We investigated 328 cases of adrenal venous sampling performed patients with PA in our hospital since 2007, including 125 males and 203 females, and their mean age was 56.1 ± 11.8 years old. We evaluated the relationship of those patients’ body mass index (BMI) with gender, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), serum sodium, serum potassium, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR), ACTH, cortisol, and the ratio of patients who showed 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test positive, and none of each showed statistical relationship with BMI. In confirmatory tests, we evaluated those values of PRA at 120 min. in upright furosemide test, either higher values of ARR at 60min. or 90 min. in captopril challenge test, and PAC at 4 hours in saline infusion test (SIT), also positive ratio of those test considered by PRA <2.0 ng/ml/hr, ARR >20, and PAC>6.0 in those tests, respectively. In adrenal venous sampling (AVS), we evaluated lateralized ratio (LR) and contralateral ratio (CR) and those positive ratios considered by LR >4 or CR<1. In our results, only positive ratio of SIT in the confirmatory tests and CR in AVS showed positive relationship with BMI. The ratio of unilateral hyperaldosteronism considered by LR>4 and CR<1 also showed no relationship. Then, we evaluated all consideration above only among 304 patients with bilateral hyperaldosteronism by AVS, suspicious of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), because it was reported patients with obesity and hyperaldosteronism are more commonly diagnosed as IHA. Although, all evaluation showed same results. In conclusion, our result revealed the relationship of BMI with positive ratio of SIT and CR, and this means obesity, at least, could affect the diagnosis of PA. We must be very careful to make diagnosis of PA, especially in patients with obesity.

SAT-LB066 Clinical Characteristics of Incidentally Discovered Functioning Adrenal Tumors: Study of Advancing Care and Pathogenesis of Intractable Adrenal Diseases in Japan (ACPA-J)

Objectives: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL), Cushing syndrome (CS), bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH) and adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are rare adrenal tumors. Hence, collaboration of researchers and clinicians from several institutes and constructing patient registry are important to achieve progress in clinical management. We organized a research group and constructed a patient registry system for adrenal tumors named Advancing Care and Pathogenesis of Intractable Adrenal Diseases in Japan (ACPA-J). In the present study, we focused on incidentally discovered adrenal tumors despite the functioning tumors in ACPA-J database, and investigated their clinical characteristics. Subjects and methods: Clinical data of 176 patients with PPGL, 110 patients with CS, 38 patients with BMAH and 45 patients with ACC who were diagnosed 2006-2016 were registered to ACPA-J database by August 2018. Among the patients who have hormone excess confirmed by endocrinological evaluation, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of an incidentaloma (I) group and a non-incidentaloma (non-I) group in which their tumors were found based on signs and symptoms of adrenal disease, and compared those between two groups. Results: The hormone excess was confirmed in 162 patients with PPGL, 110 patients with CS, 38 patients with BMAH and 36 patients with ACC. Of those, 53.2% of PPGL, 36.7% of CS, 76.5% of BMAH and 24.5% of ACC were incidentaloma, respectively. Age in I group was higher in PPGL, CS and ACC compare to that in non-I group. Tumor size was larger in I group than that in non-I group only in ACC. Incidences of metabolic complications (hypertension, glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia) were not different between two groups in all type of tumor. In PPGL, urine metanephrine levels and normetanephrine levels were not different between two groups. In CS and BMAH, morning plasma (p-) ACTH levels and p-cortisol levels in the morning, the midnight and after dexamethasone suppression test were not different between two groups. A rate of patients with subclinical cortisol excess was 13% in I group and 14% in non-I group in BMAH, whereas that in I group (50%) was higher than that in non-I group (23%) in ACC. Conclusions: The adrenal incidentaloma is defined as the tumor unexpectedly found during work-up for an indication unrelated to suspected adrenal disease. Most of the functioning adrenal tumors accompany signs and symptoms of hormone excess and have to be discovered in the process of work-up for adrenal disease. Our result showed there was not particular difference in characteristics between the incidentalomas and the non-incidentalomas. It was suggested that adrenal functioning tumors could be frequently overlooked. (This research was supported by AMED; JP18ek0109352, the Grant for NCGM; 30-A-1008, Health Labour Sciences Research Grant 2018.) Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

SAT-062 National PA Registry as a Platform for Standardized Clinical Practice of Primary Aldosteronism in Japan

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a representative cause of endocrine hypertension characterized by an excess production of aldosterone, hypertension, and cardiovascular complications. Although clinical practice guidelines have been published, diagnostic steps have not been standardized and heterogeneous clinical practice between centers remain to be the major issue of public health in Japan. Aim: To develop PA registry and to produce evidence for clinical practice of PA. Methods: PA registry was developed by Japan PA Study (JPAS) as one of the Incurable Disease Platform Project by the Japan Agency of Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan. 2850 PA patients who underwent AVS between 2006 and 2016 in 28 referral centers were registered. Major clinical questions were selected. Results: Evidence produced was as follows. 1) Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases was higher in PA than essential hypertension. Hypokalemia, unilateral subtype and/or PAC greater than 12.5ng/dl were at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. 2) Since clinical manifestation of PA in elderly was similar to that in younger patients, diagnostic process should essentially follow the same steps. 3) Saline infusion test as a confirmatory test was also useful for subtype diagnosis. 4) More than 90% of PA patients with normokalemia and bilateral disease on CT had bilateral subtype on AVS and needed AVS less weakly. Those aged more than 35 yrs. with marked PA could be spared AVS. 5) While biochemical benefit after ADX was achieved solely with LI greater than 4 of AVS, clinical benefit was largely affected by clinical findings such as age, BMI, and blood pressure. 6) Since prevalence of cortisol co-secretion was high in PA with adrenal tumor smaller than 2cm, DEX suppression test was mandatory. LI greater than 4 was applicable for PA subtype diagnosis even in patients with cortisol co-secretion, but not in those with overt Cushing syndrome. 7) ADX provided superior results in correcting hypertension and hypokalemia than medication in unilateral PA. Conclusions: National PA registry was developed for standardized clinical practice of PA in Japan. Various evidence for elaboration and simplification of clinical practice guideline of PA was created by excluding institutional bias. The PA registry has started to be operated as a part of more comprehensive registry by Japan Rare Adrenal Disease Study (JRAS) for a sustainable platform of future research and development. (Supported by AMED for the Practical Research Project for Rare/Intractable Disease under Grant Number JP17ek0109122; JP18ek0109352).

Effect of High β-glucan Barley on Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels in Subjects with Normal Glucose Tolerance: Assessment by Meal Tolerance Test and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System

The effect of white rice (WR) mixed with high β-glucan-containing barley at 50% on improvement of postprandial blood glucose levels was assessed by meal tolerance test and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in 15 healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance (age 31.6 ± 12.9 years old, 4 males and 11 females). A meal tolerance test (500 kcal) was conducted using 2 types of test meals: a test meal only with WR and a test meal WR mixed 50% barley, and the side dish was the same in both meals. Blood glucose levels of the subjects 180 minutes after ingestion of the test meals were compared. In addition, a CGM device was attached to the subjects for 2 days when the WR or barley as a staple food was provided 3 times a day for consecutive days, and the daily variation of glucose was investigated. The glucose levels 30 minutes after dietary loads and the area under the blood concentration-time curve over 180 minutes were significantly decreased in the barley consumption group. In CGM, 24-hour mean blood glucose and 24-hour standard deviation of blood glucose were also significantly decreased after ingestion of the barley. Postprandial glucose level elevation was suppressed by mixing high-β-glucan barley with WR in subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

Obesity as a Key Factor Underlying Idiopathic Hyperaldosteronism

CONTEXT

Recently, the relationship between primary aldosteronism (PA) and various metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, has been discussed. However, in PA, aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) have different etiologies.

OBJECTIVE

Our objectives were to clarify differences in obesity and metabolic disorders between APA and IHA and to gain insight in the pathogenesis of IHA.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. We assessed the PA database established by the multicenter Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study. For comparative analysis, data were also collected from 274 patients with essential hypertension (EHT).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We compared prevalences of obesity and metabolic disorders between patients with APA and patients with IHA. Comparisons with sex-, age-, and blood pressure-matched patients with EHT were also performed. Correlations between metabolic parameters and plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) in each subtype were analyzed.

RESULTS

Analysis of 516 patients with APA and 1015 patients with IHA revealed PACs were significantly higher in patients with APA than patients with IHA. By contrast, after we adjusted for clinical backgrounds, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in patients with IHA than in patients with APA or EHT. Although the prevalences of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia did not significantly differ between patients with IHA and patients with APA, triglyceride and HbA1c were significantly higher in patients with IHA than in patients with APA. There was no significant correlation between metabolic parameters and PACs in either subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IHA tend to be obese despite lower PACs than in patients with APA. The present results suggest that obesity-related factors contribute to the pathogenesis of IHA.

Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes of Primary Aldosteronism in the Elderly

CONTEXT

Primary aldosteronism (PA) in the elderly has increased in importance in association with population aging.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with PA undergoing adrenalectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a database of patients with PA who underwent adrenal venous sampling (AVS), we compared elderly patients (≥65 years old) with nonelderly patients (<65 years old) in terms of characteristics, subtype classification in ACTH-stimulated AVS, and outcomes after adrenalectomy.

RESULTS

The elderly group had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than the nonelderly group. The proportion of the unilateral subtype [defined as a lateralization index (LI) >4] was comparable between the age groups. In patients who received adrenalectomy, biochemical cure was comparable between the groups, whereas persistent hypertension was more common in the elderly group. The prevalences of hyperkalemia and renal impairment (chronic kidney disease stage 3b or higher) were higher in the elderly group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the duration of hypertension predicted persistent hypertension and hyperkalemia and that preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate predicted renal impairment in the elderly group. LI >4 in AVS was an independent predictor of biochemical cure after adrenalectomy in the elderly group but not in the nonelderly group. Age was negatively associated with biochemical cure in patients with LI ≤4.

CONCLUSION

Adrenalectomy contributes to biochemical improvement in elderly patients if determined in accordance with AVS. The treatment strategy should be determined considering the high postoperative incidence of persistent hypertension and hyperkalemia in elderly patients with a long history of hypertension or renal impairment in those with reduced renal function.

Correlation Between Lateralization Index of Adrenal Venous Sampling and Standardized Outcome in Primary Aldosteronism

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) lateralization cutoffs on surgical outcomes.

Patients and Methods

Cosyntropin-stimulated AVS was used to guide surgical management of 377 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) who were evaluated 6 months after surgery.

Main Outcome Measures

The proportion of patients that achieved clinical benefit and complete biochemical success based on the AVS aldosterone lateralization index (LI) was determined.

Results

Clinical benefit was achieved in 29 of 47 patients with an LI between 2 and 4, in 66 of 101 with an LI between 4 and 10, and in 158 of 203 with an LI > 10 (P < 0.01 for trend). Complete biochemical success was achieved in 27 of 42 with an LI between 2 and 4, in 60 of 76 with an LI between 4 and 10, and in 127 of 155 with an LI > 10 (P = 0.024 for trend). After adjustment for confounders and using those patients with an LI between 2 and 4 as a reference, a clinical benefit was associated only with those with an LI > 10 (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.03 to 5.16), whereas complete biochemical success was associated with those with an LI between 4 and 10 (OR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.14 to 7.01) or LI > 10 (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.47 to 8.55).

Conclusions

Difference of clinical outcome was relatively small when strict LI diagnostic threshold was used; biochemical cure was sufficiently achieved when an LI > 4 was used. Our study by standardized outcome measures validated that an LI > 4 may be appropriate for determining unilateral disease in PA.

Accuracy of adrenal computed tomography in predicting the unilateral subtype in young patients with hypokalaemia and elevation of aldosterone in primary aldosteronism

CONTEXT

The current Endocrine Society Guideline suggests that patients aged <35 years with marked primary aldosteronism (PA) and unilateral adrenal lesions on adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan may not need adrenal vein sampling (AVS) before proceeding to unilateral adrenalectomy. This suggestion is, however, based on the data from only one report in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the accuracy of CT findings in young PA patients who had unilateral adrenal disease on CT with hypokalaemia and elevation of aldosterone.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

We retrospectively studied 358 PA patients (n = 30, aged <35 years; n = 39, aged 35-40 years; n = 289, aged ≥40 years) with hypokalaemia and elevation of aldosterone and unilateral disease on CT who had successful AVS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Accuracy of CT findings is determined by AVS findings and/or surgical outcomes in patients aged <35 years.

RESULTS

Concordance of the diagnosis between CT and AVS was 90% (27/30) in patients aged <35 years, 79% (31/39) in patients aged 35-40 years and 69% (198/289) in those aged ≥40 years (trend for P < .01). Surgical benefit was confirmed in three patients aged <35 years and in three patients aged 35-40 years with the available surgical data who had discordance between CT and AVS findings. Collectively, the diagnostic accuracy of CT findings was 100% (30/30) if aged <35 years and 87% (34/39) if aged 35-40 years.

CONCLUSION

Primary aldosteronism patients aged <35 years with hypokalaemia and elevation of aldosterone and unilateral disease on adrenal CT could be spared AVS.

New diagnostic criteria of adrenal subclinical Cushing's syndrome: opinion from the Japan Endocrine Society

New diagnostic criteria and the treatment policy for adrenal subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS) are proposed on behalf of the Japan Endocrine Society. The Japanese version has been published, and the essential contents are presented in this English-language version. The current diagnostic criteria for SCS have elicited two main problems: (i) the relatively low reliability of a low range of serum cortisol essential for the diagnosis by an overnight 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST); (ii) different cutoff values for serum cortisol after a 1-mg DST compared with those of other countries. Thus, new criteria are needed. In the new criteria, three hierarchical cortisol cutoff values, 5.0, 3.0 and 1.8 μg/dL, after a 1-mg DST are presented. Serum cortisol ≥5 μg/dL after a 1-mg DST alone is considered sufficient to judge autonomous cortisol secretion for the diagnosis of SCS, and the current criterion based on serum cortisol ≥3 μg/dL after a 1-mg DST can continue to be used. Clinical evidence suggests that serum cortisol ≥1.8-2.9 μg/dL after a 1-mg DST is not always normal, so cases who meet the cutoff value as well as a basal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level <10 pg/mL (or poor ACTH response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)) and nocturnal serum cortisol ≥5 μg/dL are proposed to have SCS. We suggest surgery if cases show serum cortisol ≥5 μg/dL after a 1-mg DST (or are disheartened by treatment-resistant problems) or suspicious cases of adrenal cancer according to tumor imaging.