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St-Jean M, Bourdeau I, Martin M, Lacroix A. Aldosterone is Aberrantly Regulated by Various Stimuli in a High Proportion of Patients with Primary Aldosteronism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e45-e60. [PMID: 33000146 PMCID: PMC7765652 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT In primary aldosteronism (PA), aldosterone secretion is relatively independent of the renin-angiotensin system, but can be regulated by several other stimuli. OBJECTIVE To evaluate aldosterone response to several stimuli in a series of patients with PA secondary either to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH) or unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective cohort study conducted in a university teaching hospital research center. PATIENTS Forty-three patients with confirmed PA and subtyped by adrenal vein sampling (n = 39) were studied, including 11 with BAH, 28 with APA, and 4 with undefined etiology. We also studied 4 other patients with aldosterone and cortisol cosecretion. INTERVENTIONS We systematically explored aberrant regulation of aldosterone using an in vivo protocol that included the following stimulation tests performed over 3 days under dexamethasone suppression: upright posture, mixed meal, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) 1-24, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), vasopressin, and serotonin R4 agonist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Positive response was defined as >50% renin or ACTH-independent increase in plasma aldosterone/cortisol concentration following the various stimulation tests. RESULTS Renin-independent aldosterone secretion increased in response to several aberrant stimuli (upright posture, GnRH) in up to 83% of patients with APA or BAH in whom ACTH 1-24 and HT4R agonists also produced aldosterone oversecretion in all patients. The mean significant aberrant responses per patient was similar in BAH (4.6) and in APA (4.0). CONCLUSIONS Aldosterone secretion in PA is relatively autonomous from the renin-angiotensin system, but is highly regulated by several other stimuli, which contributes to the large variability of aldosterone levels in PA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu St-Jean
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Bourdeau
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc Martin
- Department of biochemistry, Clinical Department of Laboratory Medecine, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - André Lacroix
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
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St-Jean M, Bourdeau I, Therasse É, Lacroix A. Use of peripheral plasma aldosterone concentration and response to ACTH during simultaneous bilateral adrenal veins sampling to predict the source of aldosterone secretion in primary aldosteronism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020; 92:187-195. [PMID: 31867770 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Previous studies suggested that plasma aldosterone (PAC) response to ACTH stimulation could predict the subtypes of primary aldosteronism (PA) and avoid adrenal venous sampling (AVS). OBJECTIVE Assess the usefulness of peripheral (P) PAC response to ACTH stimulation during AVS to identify the source of aldosterone in patients with PA. METHODS Two hundred and fifteen patients were assigned to four different lateralization ratio (LR) groups based on different combinations of basal (≥ or <2) and post-ACTH LR (≥ or <4). The P vein parameters analysed included as follows: mean basal PAC, maximal PAC (PACmax ), and PAC/C ratio (PACmax /C), PAC absolute increase, PAC relative increase following ACTH bolus (250 mcg IV) and maximal variation of PAC/C ratio between post-ACTH and basal measures. RESULTS Mean basal PAC was significantly higher in group 1 (basal LR > 2 and post-ACTH > 4) than in group 2 (basal LR > 2, post-ACTH < 4) or group 4 (basal LR < 2 post-ACTH < 4) (P < .001). PACmax , PACmax /C and PAC absolute increase following ACTH were higher in group 1 than the others (P < .017). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis of groups 1 and 4, best AUC were obtained with mean basal PAC (AUC: 0.757 95% IC: 0.653-0.861), PACmax (AUC: 0.753 95% IC: 0.646-0.860) and PACmax /C (AUC: 0.750 95% IC: 0.646-0.853). CONCLUSION P mean basal PAC and PACmax and PACmax /C are higher in basal and ACTH lateralized PA than in other groups. Peripheral PAC cut-off values fail to adequately distinguish all groups and cannot replace the requirement to conduct AVS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu St-Jean
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Bourdeau
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Therasse
- Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Radiology, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - André Lacroix
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
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Sam D, Kline GA, So B, Leung AA. Discordance Between Imaging and Adrenal Vein Sampling in Primary Aldosteronism Irrespective of Interpretation Criteria. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019; 104:1900-1906. [PMID: 30590677 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2018-02089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subtyping of primary aldosteronism (PA) using imaging and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) may yield discordant results, causing confusion in management. Interpretation criteria for AVS lateralization may affect discordance rates. METHODS We identified consecutive patients with PA who underwent AVS at a quaternary care center between January 2006 and May 2018. Patient demographics, laboratory results, diagnostic imaging, and AVS results were retrieved. Adrenal cross-sectional imaging was compared with AVS findings. The presence of lateralization was defined using varying thresholds for the lateralization index (LI) from >2:1 to >5:1. Discordance was defined by a unilateral lesion on imaging with contralateral or nonlateralization on AVS. RESULTS A total of 342 patients were included; 68.7% had hypokalemia. With cross-sectional imaging, 191 (55.6%) patients had unilateral lesions, 47 (13.7%) had bilateral lesions, and 104 (30.4%) had normal imaging. Overall discordance rates were high, ranging from 22% to 28% for LI thresholds of >2:1 and >5:1, respectively. Discordance between imaging and AVS was positively correlated with LI threshold stringency (P < 0.001). Patients with normal or bilateral lesions on imaging frequently lateralized on AVS. Lateralization, when present, was approximately equal between left and right sides, irrespective of the LI threshold. CONCLUSIONS Discrepancies between imaging and AVS were common, even among patients with nonspecific imaging. Discordance was greatest with the strictest AVS interpretation criteria. Even under the most lenient thresholds, apparent discordance between imaging and AVS exceeded 20% and may limit the ability to make surgical decisions. Reliance on imaging alone for detecting lateralization may be misleading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis Sam
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gregory A Kline
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Benny So
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander A Leung
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Strajina V, Al-Hilli Z, Andrews JC, Bancos I, Thompson GB, Farley DR, Lyden ML, Dy BM, Young WF, McKenzie TJ. Primary aldosteronism: making sense of partial data sets from failed adrenal venous sampling-suppression of adrenal aldosterone production can be used in clinical decision making. Surgery 2018; 163:801-806. [DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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St-Jean M, Ghorayeb NE, Bourdeau I, Lacroix A. Aberrant G-protein coupled hormone receptor in adrenal diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 32:165-187. [PMID: 29678284 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of cortisol or aldosterone production when ACTH of pituitary origin or the renin-angiotensin systems are suppressed in primary adrenal Cushing's syndrome or in primary aldosteronism is exerted by diverse genetic and molecular mechanisms. In addition to recently identified mutations in various genes implicated in the cyclic AMP or ion channel pathways, steroidogenesis is not really autonomous as it is frequently regulated by the aberrant adrenocortical expression of diverse hormone receptors, particularly G-protein coupled hormone receptors (GPCR) which can substitute for the normal function of ACTH or angiotensin-II. In addition, paracrine or autocrine production of ligands for the aberrant GPCR such as ACTH or serotonin is found in some adrenal tumors or hyperplasias and participates in a complex regulatory loop causing steroid excess. Targeted therapies to block the aberrant ligands or their receptors could become useful in the future, particularly for patients with bilateral source of steroid excess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu St-Jean
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Nada El Ghorayeb
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Isabelle Bourdeau
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - André Lacroix
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Research Center, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Subtype prediction of primary aldosteronism by combining aldosterone concentrations in the left adrenal vein and inferior vena cava: a multicenter collaborative study on adrenal venous sampling. J Hum Hypertens 2017; 32:12-19. [PMID: 29176594 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-017-0015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) by adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is recommended as a mandatory step for indicating adrenal surgery. It is a technically demanding procedure, especially in the right adrenal vein. The aim of the study was to predict the subtype diagnosis in the absence of values from the right AVS. From the databases of nine centers (WAVES-J), 308 patients with PA who underwent successful AVS were studied. Based on the ipsilateral ratio (IR) (aldosterone/cortisol ratio of the left adrenal vein [A/Cleft AV] / aldosterone/cortisol ratio of the inferior vena cava [A/CIVC]), the patients were divided into two groups: the patients with IR ≥ 1.0 (n = 262) and those with IR < 1.0 (n = 46). In patients with IR > 1.0, the A/Cleft AV was significantly higher in patients with the left unilateral subtype than in patients with the bilateral subtype. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that an A/Cleft AV cutoff >68 showed 70.8% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity for the left unilateral subtype. On the other hand, in patients with IR < 1.0, the A/Cleft AV was significantly lower in patients with the right unilateral subtype. ROC analysis revealed that an A/Cleft AV cutoff <9 showed 86.7% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity for the right unilateral subtype. Hence, the combination of the IR and A/C ratio in the left adrenal vein is useful for predicting the subtype. The present results provide important information for patients with PA in whom AVS was unsuccessful in the right adrenal vein.
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Wolley MJ, Ahmed AH, Gordon RD, Stowasser M. Does ACTH improve the diagnostic performance of adrenal vein sampling for subtyping primary aldosteronism? Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2016; 85:703-709. [PMID: 27213822 DOI: 10.1111/cen.13110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is used for determining treatment options for primary aldosteronism (PA), but is a difficult procedure. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) infusion or bolus has been reported to improve AVS success rates by increasing cortisol secretion, but effects on lateralization are controversial. We therefore assessed the effects of ACTH in regard to AVS success and lateralization in our unit, after a change in protocol to ACTH-stimulated AVS. SETTING AVS was performed after overnight recumbency in patients with PA confirmed by fludrocortisone suppression testing. Bilateral sequential sampling was performed before and after an intravenous bolus of 250 mcg of ACTH. Lateralization was defined as an aldosterone/cortisol ratio in one adrenal vein at least twice peripheral, combined with a contralateral adrenal ratio no higher than peripheral (contralateral suppression). RESULTS In 47 AVS procedures, the median adrenal/peripheral cortisol gradient increased on the left (11·6 vs 18·2 μg/100 ml, P < 0·001) and right (15·6 vs 31·5 μg/100 ml, P < 0·001) after ACTH. A total of 34 of 47 studies were diagnostic pre-ACTH (six failing because of low aldosterone levels bilaterally and seven failing to cannulate one or both sides) vs 44 of 47 (P = 0·011) studies diagnostic post-ACTH (failure to cannulate one or both sides in 3). Concordance between diagnostic studies pre- and post-ACTH was 91%, but two bilateral cases became unilateral after ACTH and one unilateral case before ACTH was bilateral afterwards. CONCLUSIONS ACTH improved cortisol gradients and aldosterone secretion, resulting in a reduction in the proportion of nondiagnostic studies. There was a low proportion of discordance between pre- and post-ACTH diagnoses, the significance of which is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Wolley
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Ashraf H Ahmed
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Richard D Gordon
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Michael Stowasser
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
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Doumas M, Douma S. Primary Aldosteronism: A Field on the Move. UPDATES IN HYPERTENSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR PROTECTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-34141-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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El Ghorayeb N, Bourdeau I, Lacroix A. Role of ACTH and Other Hormones in the Regulation of Aldosterone Production in Primary Aldosteronism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016; 7:72. [PMID: 27445975 PMCID: PMC4921457 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The major physiological regulators of aldosterone production from the adrenal zona glomerulosa are potassium and angiotensin II; other acute regulators include adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serotonin. Their interactions with G-protein coupled hormone receptors activate cAMP/PKA pathway thereby regulating intracellular calcium flux and CYP11B2 transcription, which is the specific steroidogenic enzyme of aldosterone synthesis. In primary aldosteronism (PA), the increased production of aldosterone and resultant relative hypervolemia inhibits the renin and angiotensin system; aldosterone secretion is mostly independent from the suppressed renin-angiotensin system, but is not autonomous, as it is regulated by a diversity of other ligands of various eutopic or ectopic receptors, in addition to activation of calcium flux resulting from mutations of various ion channels. Among the abnormalities in various hormone receptors, an overexpression of the melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R) could be responsible for aldosterone hypersecretion in aldosteronomas. An exaggerated increase in plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) is found in patients with PA secondary either to unilateral aldosteronomas or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH) following acute ACTH administration compared to normal individuals. A diurnal increase in PAC in early morning and its suppression by dexamethasone confirms the increased role of endogenous ACTH as an important aldosterone secretagogue in PA. Screening using a combination of dexamethasone and fludrocortisone test reveals a higher prevalence of PA in hypertensive populations compared to the aldosterone to renin ratio. The variable level of MC2R overexpression in each aldosteronomas or in the adjacent zona glomerulosa hyperplasia may explain the inconsistent results of adrenal vein sampling between basal levels and post ACTH administration in the determination of source of aldosterone excess. In the rare cases of glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism, a chimeric CYP11B2 becomes regulated by ACTH activating its chimeric CYP11B1 promoter of aldosterone synthase in bilateral adrenal fasciculate-like hyperplasia. This review will focus on the role of ACTH on excess aldosterone secretion in PA with particular focus on the aberrant expression of MC2R in comparison with other aberrant ligands and their GPCRs in this frequent pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada El Ghorayeb
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Bourdeau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - André Lacroix
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: André Lacroix,
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Kline GA, Chin A, So B, Harvey A, Pasieka JL. Defining contralateral adrenal suppression in primary aldosteronism: implications for diagnosis and outcome. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2015; 83:20-7. [PMID: 25400021 DOI: 10.1111/cen.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA) should have a contralaterally normal and therefore suppressed adrenal zona glomerulosa. However, there is no validated definition of adrenal suppression. We created two biochemical hypotheses of adrenal suppression based upon measurements taken during adrenal vein sampling (AVS) to determine whether either proved useful for interpretation of AVS or prediction of hypertension outcome in operated cases. DESIGN Retrospective database analysis. PATIENTS Ninety-nine cases of PA from a tertiary hypertension unit. MEASUREMENTS Hypothesis 1 was the proportional suppression of the uninvolved/lowest adrenal(aldo/cortisol) to IVC(aldo/cortisol) ratio pre- and post cosyntropin. Hypothesis 2 was the absolute decrease in the uninvolved adrenal(aldo/cortisol) ratio after cortrosyn injection. ROC analysis performed using lateralization and hypertension resolution as the outcomes of interest. RESULTS Hypothesis 1 proved highly predictive of lateralization with a ROC AUC of 0.958, P < 0.0001, giving adrenal(aldo/cortisol):IVC(aldo/cortisol) <1.4 as the optimized criterion (sensitivity 90%, specificity 94%). For blood pressure outcomes in the surgical subgroup (n = 52), hypertension resolution was most commonly seen among subjects with adrenal suppression by both definitions although there was significant overlap with subjects requiring ongoing medication. CONCLUSIONS Post cosyntropin suppression of the uninvolved adrenal-to-IVC ratio is a highly useful definition of adrenal suppression that accurately predicts unilateral PA. This may be particularly useful in a case where AVS fails to catheterize one of the adrenal veins but suppression is seen on the other side. Adrenal suppression may also predict blood pressure outcome, however, a much larger PA database is likely necessary to determine the relative contribution of this predictor.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Kline
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - A Chin
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Calgary Laboratory Services, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - B So
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - A Harvey
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - J L Pasieka
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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