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Charoensri S, Turcu AF. Primary Aldosteronism Prevalence - An Unfolding Story. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2023; 131:394-401. [PMID: 36996879 DOI: 10.1055/a-2066-2696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by dysregulated, renin-independent aldosterone excess. Long perceived as rare, PA has emerged as one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Failure to recognize and treat PA results in cardiovascular and renal complications, through processes mediated by both direct target tissue insults and indirectly, by hypertension. PA spans a continuum of dysregulated aldosterone secretion, which is typically recognized in late stages after treatment-resistant hypertension and cardiovascular and/or renal complications develop. Determining the precise disease burden remains challenging due to heterogeneity in testing, arbitrary thresholds, and populations studied. This review summarizes the reports on PA prevalence among the general population and in specific high-risk subgroups, highlighting the impact of rigid versus permissive criteria on PA prevalence perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suranut Charoensri
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, USA. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
| | - Adina F Turcu
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, USA. Ann Arbor, Michigan
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2
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Zhang L, Ding X, Ma Y, Muthu N, Ajmal I, Moore JH, Herman DS, Chen J. A maximum likelihood approach to electronic health record phenotyping using positive and unlabeled patients. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021; 27:119-126. [PMID: 31722396 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phenotyping patients using electronic health record (EHR) data conventionally requires labeled cases and controls. Assigning labels requires manual medical chart review and therefore is labor intensive. For some phenotypes, identifying gold-standard controls is prohibitive. We developed an accurate EHR phenotyping approach that does not require labeled controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our framework relies on a random subset of cases, which can be specified using an anchor variable that has excellent positive predictive value and sensitivity independent of predictors. We proposed a maximum likelihood approach that efficiently leverages data from the specified cases and unlabeled patients to develop logistic regression phenotyping models, and compare model performance with existing algorithms. RESULTS Our method outperformed the existing algorithms on predictive accuracy in Monte Carlo simulation studies, application to identify hypertension patients with hypokalemia requiring oral supplementation using a simulated anchor, and application to identify primary aldosteronism patients using real-world cases and anchor variables. Our method additionally generated consistent estimates of 2 important parameters, phenotype prevalence and the proportion of true cases that are labeled. DISCUSSION Upon identification of an anchor variable that is scalable and transferable to different practices, our approach should facilitate development of scalable, transferable, and practice-specific phenotyping models. CONCLUSIONS Our proposed approach enables accurate semiautomated EHR phenotyping with minimal manual labeling and therefore should greatly facilitate EHR clinical decision support and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingjiao Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xiruo Ding
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yanyuan Ma
- Department of Statistics, Penn State University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Naveen Muthu
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Imran Ajmal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jason H Moore
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel S Herman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jinbo Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract
Hypokalemia is closely linked with the pathophysiology of primary aldosteronism (PA). Although hypokalemic PA is less common than the normokalemic course of the disease, hypokalemia is of particular importance for the manifestation and development of comorbidities. Specifically, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that hypokalemia in PA patients is associated with a more severe disease course regarding cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality. It is also well appreciated that low potassium levels per se can promote or exacerbate hypertension. The spectrum of hypokalemia-related symptoms ranges from asymptomatic courses to life-threatening conditions. Hypokalemia is found in 9-37% of all cases of PA with a predominance in patients with aldosterone producing adenoma. Conversely, hypokalemia resolves in almost 100% of cases after both, specific medical or surgical treatment of the disease. However, to date, high-level evidence about the prevalence of primary aldosteronism in a hypokalemic population is missing. Epidemiological data are expected from the recently launched IPAHK+study ("Incidence of Primary Aldosteronism in Patients with Hypokalemia").
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Gruber
- Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Felix Beuschlein
- Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
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4
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Rossi GP. Primary Aldosteronism: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020; 74:2799-2811. [PMID: 31779795 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common, but frequently overlooked, cause of arterial hypertension and excess cardiovascular events, particularly atrial fibrillation. As timely diagnosis and treatment can provide a cure of hyperaldosteronism and hypertension, even when the latter is resistant to drug treatment, strategies to screen patients for PA early with a simplified diagnostic algorithm are justified. They can be particularly beneficial in some subgroups of hypertensive patients, as those who are at highest cardiovascular risk. However, identification of the surgically curable cases of PA and achievement of optimal results require subtyping with adrenal vein sampling, which, as it is technically challenging and currently performed only in tertiary referral centers, represents the bottleneck in the work-up of PA. Measures aimed at improving the clinical use of adrenal vein sampling and at developing alternative techniques for subtyping, alongside recommendations for drug treatment, including new development in the field, and for follow-up are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Hypertension Unit, Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Rossi GP, Maiolino G, Flego A, Belfiore A, Bernini G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Muiesan ML, Mannelli M, Negro A, Palumbo G, Parenti G, Rossi E, Mantero F. Adrenalectomy Lowers Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Aldosteronism Patients at Long Term. Hypertension 2018; 71:585-591. [PMID: 29483224 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.117.10596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PA) causes cardiovascular damage in excess to the blood pressure elevation, but there are no prospective studies proving a worse long-term prognosis in adrenalectomized and medically treated patients. We have, therefore, assessed the outcome of PA patients according to treatment mode in the PAPY study (Primary Aldosteronism Prevalence in Hypertension) patients, 88.8% of whom were optimally treated patients with primary (essential) hypertension (PH), and the rest had PA and were assigned to medical therapy (6.4%) or adrenalectomy (4.8%). Total mortality was the primary end point; secondary end points were cardiovascular death, major adverse cardiovascular events, including atrial fibrillation, and total cardiovascular events. Kaplan-Meier and Cox analysis were used to compare survival between PA and its subtypes and PH patients. After a median of 11.8 years, complete follow-up data were obtained in 89% of the 1125 patients in the original cohort. Only a trend (P=0.07) toward a worse death-free survival in PA than in PH patients was observed. However, at both univariate (90.0% versus 97.8%; P=0.002) and multivariate analyses (hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.08; P=0.025), medically treated PA patients showed a lower atrial fibrillation-free survival than PH patients. By showing that during a long-term follow-up adrenalectomized aldosterone-producing adenoma patients have a similar long-term outcome of optimally treated PH patients, whereas, at variance, medically treated PA patients remain at a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, this large prospective study emphasizes the importance of an early identification of PA patients who need adrenalectomy as a key measure to prevent incident atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Maiolino
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Alberto Flego
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Belfiore
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Bernini
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Bruno Fabris
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Ferri
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Gilberta Giacchetti
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Letizia
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccario
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Mallamaci
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Lorenza Muiesan
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Massimo Mannelli
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Aurelio Negro
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Gaetana Palumbo
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Gabriele Parenti
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Ermanno Rossi
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Franco Mantero
- From the Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
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Maiolino G, Rossitto G, Bisogni V, Cesari M, Seccia TM, Plebani M, Rossi GP. Quantitative Value of Aldosterone-Renin Ratio for Detection of Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma: The Aldosterone-Renin Ratio for Primary Aldosteronism (AQUARR) Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2017; 6:JAHA.117.005574. [PMID: 28529209 PMCID: PMC5524101 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.117.005574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Current guidelines recommend use of the aldosterone‐renin ratio (ARR) for the case detection of primary aldosteronism followed by confirmatory tests to exclude false‐positive results from further diagnostic workup. We investigated the hypothesis that this could be unnecessary in patients with a high ARR value if the quantitative information carried by the ARR is taken into due consideration. Methods and Results We interrogated 2 large data sets of prospectively collected patients studied with the same predefined protocol, which included the captopril challenge test. We used an unambiguous diagnosis of aldosterone‐producing adenoma as reference index. We also assessed whether the post‐captopril ARR and plasma aldosterone concentration fall furnished a diagnostic gain over baseline ARR values. We found that the false‐positive rate fell exponentially, and, conversely, the specificity increased with rising ARR values. At receiver operating characteristics curves and diagnostic odds ratio analysis, the high baseline ARR values implied very high positive likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio values. The baseline and post‐captopril ARR showed similar diagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve) in both the exploratory and validation cohorts, indicating lack of diagnostic gain with this confirmatory test (between‐area under the curve difference, 0.005; 95% CI, −0.031 to 0.040; P=0.7 for comparison, and 0.05; 95% CI, −0.061 to 0.064; P=0.051 for comparison, respectively). Conclusions These results indicate that the ARR conveys key quantitative information that, if properly used, can simplify the diagnostic workup, resulting in saving of money and resources. This can offer the chance of diagnosis and ensuing adrenalectomy to a larger number of hypertensive patients, ultimately resulting in better control of blood pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Maiolino
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rossitto
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Valeria Bisogni
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cesari
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Teresa Maria Seccia
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Rossi
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
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7
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Rossi GP, Ceolotto G, Rossitto G, Seccia TM, Maiolino G, Berton C, Basso D, Plebani M. Prospective validation of an automated chemiluminescence-based assay of renin and aldosterone for the work-up of arterial hypertension. Clin Chem Lab Med 2017; 54:1441-50. [PMID: 26824982 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2015-1094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The availability of simple and accurate assays of plasma active renin (DRC) and aldosterone concentration (PAC) can improve the detection of secondary forms of arterial hypertension. Thus, we investigated the performance of an automated chemiluminescent assay for DRC and PAC in referred hypertensive patients. METHODS We prospectively recruited 260 consecutive hypertensive patients referred to an ESH Center for Hypertension. After exclusion of six protocol violations, 254 patients were analyzed: 67.3% had primary hypertension, 17.3% an aldosterone producing adenoma (APA), 11.4% idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), 2.4% renovascular hypertension (RVH), 0.8% familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 (FH-1), 0.4% apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), 0.4% a renin-producing tumor, and 3.9% were adrenalectomized APA patients. Bland-Altman plots and Deming regression were used to analyze results. The diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve, AUC of the ROC) of the DRC-based aldosterone-renin ratio (ARRCL) was compared with that of the PRA-based ARR (ARRRIA) using as reference the conclusive diagnosis of APA. RESULTS At Bland-Altman plot, the DRC and PAC assay showed no bias as compared to the PRA and PAC assay. A tight relation was found between the DRC and the PRA values (concordance correlation coefficient=0.92, p<0.0001) and the PAC values measured with radioimmunoassay and chemiluminescence (concordance correlation coefficient=0.93, p<0.001). For APA identification the AUC of the ARRCL was higher than that of the ARRRIA [0.974 (95% CI 0.940-0.991) vs. 0.894 (95% CI 0.841-0.933), p=0.02]. CONCLUSIONS This rapid automated chemiluminescent DRC/PAC assay performed better than validated PRA/PAC radioimmunoassays for the identification of APA in referred hypertensive patients.
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A useful tool to improve the case detection rate of primary aldosteronism: the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR)-App. J Hypertens 2016; 34:1019-21. [PMID: 26870884 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000000892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aldosterone-renin ratio is the most popular test for the case detection of primary aldosteronism, which entails the most common, albeit overlooked, form of endocrine secondary hypertension. A major hindrance to the clinical use of the aldosterone-renin ratio depends on the difficulty of achieving the calculation of this ratio, given that laboratories provide plasma aldosterone in different units of measurement, and renin is measured as plasma renin activity or direct active renin. We have therefore developed an App, which can be downloaded from the ESH website and the Apple store, to assist practising physicians in performing this calculation. Our hope is that this simple tool will help in increasing the detection rate of primary aldosteronism and ultimately the long-term cure of many hypertensive patients.
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9
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Stowasser M, Gordon RD. Primary Aldosteronism: Changing Definitions and New Concepts of Physiology and Pathophysiology Both Inside and Outside the Kidney. Physiol Rev 2016; 96:1327-84. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00026.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 60 years that have passed since the discovery of the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone, much has been learned about its synthesis (both adrenal and extra-adrenal), regulation (by renin-angiotensin II, potassium, adrenocorticotrophin, and other factors), and effects (on both epithelial and nonepithelial tissues). Once thought to be rare, primary aldosteronism (PA, in which aldosterone secretion by the adrenal is excessive and autonomous of its principal regulator, angiotensin II) is now known to be the most common specifically treatable and potentially curable form of hypertension, with most patients lacking the clinical feature of hypokalemia, the presence of which was previously considered to be necessary to warrant further efforts towards confirming a diagnosis of PA. This, and the appreciation that aldosterone excess leads to adverse cardiovascular, renal, central nervous, and psychological effects, that are at least partly independent of its effects on blood pressure, have had a profound influence on raising clinical and research interest in PA. Such research on patients with PA has, in turn, furthered knowledge regarding aldosterone synthesis, regulation, and effects. This review summarizes current progress in our understanding of the physiology of aldosterone, and towards defining the causes (including genetic bases), epidemiology, outcomes, and clinical approaches to diagnostic workup (including screening, diagnostic confirmation, and subtype differentiation) and treatment of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Stowasser
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard D. Gordon
- Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Rossi GP, Bisogni V. An App for the Diagnosis of Primary Aldosteronism. Am J Hypertens 2016; 29:660-1. [PMID: 27009784 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Valeria Bisogni
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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The Aldosterone Renin Ratio (ARR) APP as Tool to Enhance the Detection Rate of Primary Aldosteronism. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2016; 23:147-9. [PMID: 26883242 DOI: 10.1007/s40292-016-0132-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism is one of the most common forms of secondary hypertension, but it is often under diagnosed, which leads to the development of cardiovascular damage, and excess costs for long-term drug treatment and management of complications. The aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) is a key step for early detection of primary aldosteronism, but unfortunately is not easily estimated. This is because plasma aldosterone and renin are measured with different assays, which provide results in different units of measure, with ensuing difficulty of obtaining the calculation of the ARR in the proper units and impossibility of interpreting results with reference to established cut off values. Therefore, doctors are often unable to draw unambiguous conclusions to be used for the clinical decision-making. To the aim of making the diagnostic work-up easier, we have developed an Application that provide a swift calculation of the ARR regardless of the units of measure used for plasma aldosterone and renin values. If the concomitant serum potassium level is available the App also provides the patient's probability of having an aldosterone-producing adenoma based on a validated logistic discriminant analysis.
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Maiolino G, Mareso S, Bisogni V, Rossitto G, Azzolini M, Cesari M, Seccia TM, Calò L, Rossi GP. Assessment of the Quantitative Value Usefulness of the Aldosterone-Renin Ratio (ARR) for Primary Aldosteronism (AQUARR) Study. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2015; 23:19-23. [PMID: 26677165 DOI: 10.1007/s40292-015-0125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Current guidelines recommend use of the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) for the case detection of primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common cause of secondary hypertension, in selected hypertensive patients. "Confirmatory" tests are then recommended in patients who tested positive at the ARR to exclude from further diagnostic work-up false positive results. Based on our experience we hypothesized that the ARR carries quantitative information, which can avoid the need of confirmatory tests. We herein describe a study protocol to identify the ARR cut-off value with a high specificity for the exclusion of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) based on analysis of two large prospectively collected datasets of patients in which a conclusive diagnosis of APA was made by the four corners criteria. This will also serve to investigate the diagnostic gain provided over this ARR cut-off value by one confirmatory test, the captopril challenge test. Hence, with this protocol we expect to identify an ARR cut-off value that might prevent further testing in patients with either a low or a high probability of APA. This could translate in a higher diagnostic accuracy and, by preventing unnecessary invasive testing, into a substantial saving of money, time, and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Maiolino
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Mareso
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Valeria Bisogni
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rossitto
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Azzolini
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cesari
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Teresa Maria Seccia
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Calò
- Department of Medicine, UOC Nefrologia, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Rossi
- Clinica dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, DIMED-UOSD Ipertensione, University Hospital, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126, Padua, Italy.
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Lazzarini N, Nanni L, Fantozzi C, Pietracaprina A, Pucci G, Seccia TM, Rossi GP. Heterogeneous machine learning system for improving the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. Pattern Recognit Lett 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.patrec.2015.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Primary hyperaldosteronism - the common and curable form of endocrine hypertension. COR ET VASA 2011. [DOI: 10.33678/cor.2011.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abstract
A few simple rules can allow physicians to successfully identify many patients with arterial hypertension caused by PA among the so-called essential hypertensive patients. The hyperaldosteronism and the hypokalemia can be cured with adrenalectomy in practically all of these patients. Moreover, in a substantial proportion of them, the blood pressure can be normalized or markedly lowered if a unilateral cause of PA is discovered. Hence, the screening for PA can be rewarding both for the patient and for the clinician, particularly in those cases where hypertension is severe and/or resistant to treatment, in which the removal of an APA can allow blood pressure to be brought under control despite withdrawal of, or a prominent reduction in, the number and doses of antihypertensive medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Molecular Hypertension Laboratory, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale G. Patrassi - Internal Medicine 4, University of Padua, University Hospital Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35126 Padua, Italy.
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Abstract
Primary aldosteronism is much more common than previously thought. The high prevalence of primary aldosteronism, the damage this condition does to the heart, blood vessels and kidneys (which causes a high rate of cardiovascular events), along with the notion that a timely diagnosis followed by an appropriate therapy can correct the arterial hypertension and hypokalemia, justify efforts to search for primary aldosteronism in many patients with hypertension. Most centers can use a cost-effective strategy to screen for patients with primary aldosteronism. By contrast, the identification of primary aldosteronism subtypes, which involves adrenal-vein sampling, should only be undertaken at tertiary referral centers that have experience in performing and interpreting this test. The identification of a curable form of primary aldosteronism can be beneficial for the patient. In some subgroups of patients with hypertension who are at high risk of primary aldosteronism or can benefit most from an accurate diagnosis, an aggressive diagnostic approach is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DMCS) 'Gino Patrassi', Internal Medicine 4, Policlinico Universitario, Via Giustiniani 2, 35126 Padova, Italy.
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Abstract
Primary aldosteronism involves more than 11% of hypertensive patients who are referred to specialized centers for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. If not diagnosed early it causes an excess damage to the heart, vessels and kidney, which translates into an cardiovascular events. Since these ominous consequences can be corrected with a timely diagnosis and an appropriate therapy, physicians should exercise a high degree of alert concerning the possibility that primary aldosteronism is present in hypertensive patients. The purpose of this review is to provide up-dated information on the strategy for case detection, the subtype differentiation and the management of primary aldosteronism.
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Westerdahl C, Bergenfelz A, Isaksson A, Nerbrand C, Valdemarsson S. Primary aldosteronism among newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients in a Swedish primary care area. Scand J Prim Health Care 2011; 29:57-62. [PMID: 21323498 PMCID: PMC3347934 DOI: 10.3109/02813432.2011.554015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients in primary care using the aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR), and to assess clinical and biochemical characteristics in patients with high and normal ARR. DESIGN Patient survey study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS A total of 200 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed and untreated hypertension from six primary health care centres in Sweden were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ARR was calculated from serum aldosterone and plasma renin concentrations. The cut-off level for ARR was 65. Patients with an increased ARR were considered for confirmatory testing with the fludrocortisone suppression test (FST), followed by adrenal computed tomographic radiology (CT) and adrenal venous sampling (AVS). RESULTS Of 200 patients, 36 patients had an ARR > 65. Of these 36 patients, 11 patients had an incomplete aldosterone inhibition during FST. Three patients were diagnosed with an aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) and eight with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BHA). Except for moderately lower level of P-K in patients with an ARR > 65 and in patients with PA, there were no biochemical or clinical differences found among hypertensive patients with PA compared with patients without PA. CONCLUSION Eleven of 200 evaluated patients (5.5%) were considered to have PA. The diagnosis of PA should therefore be considered in newly diagnosed hypertensive subjects and screening for the diagnosis is warranted.
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Wu VC, Yang SY, Lin JW, Cheng BW, Kuo CC, Tsai CT, Chu TS, Huang KH, Wang SM, Lin YH, Chiang CK, Chang HW, Lin CY, Lin LY, Chiu JS, Hu FC, Chueh SC, Ho YL, Liu KL, Lin SL, Yen RF, Wu KD. Kidney impairment in primary aldosteronism. Clin Chim Acta 2011; 412:1319-25. [PMID: 21345337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2011.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2010] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney impairment is noted in primary aldosteronism (PA), and probably initiated by glomerular hyperfiltration. METHODS A prospectively defined survey was conducted on 602 patients who were suspected of PA in the multiple-center Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) database. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated and followed up at 1 yr after treatment. RESULTS The diagnosis of PA was confirmed in 330 patients. Among them 17% of these patients had kidney impairment (eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m²). Patients with PA had a higher prevalence of estimated hyperfiltration than those with essential hypertension (EH) (14.5% vs. 7.0%, p=0.005). The eGFR independently predicted PA (OR, 1.017) in the propensity-adjusted multivariate logistic model. In PA, plasma renin activity and lower serum potassium (p=0.018) was correlated with kidney impairment (p=0.001), while this relationship was not significant in patients with EH. Either unilateral adrenalectomy or treatment of spironolactone for PA patients caused a decrease of eGFR (p<0.001). Pre-operative hypokalemia (p=0.013) and the long latency of hypertension (p=0.016) could enhance the significant decrease of eGFR after adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS Patients with aldosteronism had relative estimated hyperfiltration than patients with EH. Calculation of eGFR may increase the specificity in identifying patients with PA. Our findings demonstrate the correlation of serum potassium and renin with estimated hyperfiltration in PA and their relationship to kidney damage. These results provide a high priority for future renal protective strategies and methods for the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vin-Cent Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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The aldosterone–renin ratio based on the plasma renin activity and the direct renin assay for diagnosing aldosterone-producing adenoma. J Hypertens 2010; 28:1892-9. [DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0b013e32833d2192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Rossi GP, Seccia TM, Pessina AC. Response to Is the Aldosterone:Renin Ratio Truly Reproducible? Hypertension 2010. [DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.110.149880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Rossi GP, Seccia TM, Palumbo G, Belfiore A, Bernini G, Caridi G, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Patalano A, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Pessina AC, Mantero F. Within-patient reproducibility of the aldosterone: renin ratio in primary aldosteronism. Hypertension 2009; 55:83-9. [PMID: 19933925 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.109.139832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The plasma aldosterone concentration:renin ratio (ARR) is widely used for the screening of primary aldosteronism, but its reproducibility is unknown. We, therefore, investigated the within-patient reproducibility of the ARR in a prospective multicenter study of consecutive hypertensive patients referred to specialized centers for hypertension in Italy. After the patients were carefully prepared from the pharmacological standpoint, the ARR was determined at baseline in 1136 patients and repeated after, on average, 4 weeks in the patients who had initially an ARR > or =40 and in 1 of every 4 of those with an ARR <40. The reproducibility of the ARR was assessed with Passing and Bablok and Deming regression, coefficient of reproducibility, and Bland-Altman and Mountain plots. Within-patient ARR comparison was available in 268 patients, of whom 49 had an aldosterone-producing adenoma, on the basis of the "4-corner criteria." The ARR showed a highly significant within-patient correlation (r=0.69; P<0.0001) and reproducibility. Bland-Altman plot showed no proportional, magnitude-related, or absolute systematic error between the ARR; moreover, only 7% of the values, for example, slightly more than what could be expected by chance, fell out of the 95% CI for the between-test difference. The accuracy of each ARR for pinpointing aldosterone-producing adenoma patients was approximately 80%. Thus, although it was performed under different conditions in a multicenter study, the ARR showed a good within-patient reproducibility. Hence, contrary to previously claimed poor reproducibility of the ARR, these data support its use for the screening of primary aldosteronism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- DMCS-Internal Medicine 4, University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35126 Padova, Italy.
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Rossi GP, Seccia TM, Pessina AC. Clinical Use of Laboratory Tests for the Identification of Secondary Forms of Arterial Hypertension. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2008; 44:1-85. [PMID: 17175520 DOI: 10.1080/10408360600931831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of secondary hypertension can be underestimated if appropriate tests are not performed. The importance of selecting patients with a high pre-test probability of secondary forms of hypertension is first discussed. The laboratory tests currently used for seeking a cause of hypertension are critically reviewed, with emphasis on their operative features and limitations. Strategies to identify primary aldosteronism, the most frequent form of secondary hypertension, and to determine its unilateral or bilateral causes are described. Treatment entails adrenalectomy in unilateral forms, and mineralocorticoid receptor blockade in bilateral forms. Renovascular hypertension is also a common, curable form of hypertension, that should be identified as early as possible to avoid the onset of cardiovascular target organ damage. The tests for its confirmation or exclusion are discussed. The various tests available for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, which is much rarer than the above but extremely important to identify, are also described, with emphasis on recent developments in genetic testing. Finally, the tests for diagnosing some rarer monogenic forms and other renal and endocrine causes of arterial hypertension are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Seccia TM, Rossi GP. Clinical Use and Pathogenetic Basis of Laboratory Tests for the Evaluation of Primary Arterial Hypertension. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2008; 42:393-452. [PMID: 16390680 DOI: 10.1080/10408360500295600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the laboratory biochemical tests that are useful in the diagnostic approach to the hypertensive patient. A "minimal" diagnostic laboratory work-up, including a small number of tests that are simple and relatively inexpensive, is first described. Because these tests provide basic information on the presence of major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and target organ damage, and might give some clues to the presence of a secondary form of hypertension (HT), they should be performed on all patients presenting with HT. Other tests that are aimed at assessing the overall CV risk, a major determinant of prognosis that dictates the therapeutic strategy in the individual HT patient, are then discussed. They allow identification of major CV risk factors and associated clinical conditions which, if present, lead to a substantial change of therapeutic strategy. The role of C-reactive protein as a marker of atherosclerosis and its predictive value for CV events are also discussed. Finally, a section is devoted to tests that are currently confined to research purposes, such as markers of endothelial function including endothelin-1, homocysteine and genetic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Seccia
- Department of Clinical Methodology and Medical-Surgical Technologies, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Rossi GP, Belfiore A, Bernini G, Fabris B, Caridi G, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mannelli M, Palumbo G, Patalano A, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Pessina AC, Mantero F. Body mass index predicts plasma aldosterone concentrations in overweight-obese primary hypertensive patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; 93:2566-71. [PMID: 18445663 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Body mass index (BMI) shows a direct correlation with plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and urinary aldosterone excretion in normotensive individuals; whether the same applies to hypertensive patients is unknown. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine if BMI predicts PAC and the PAC/plasma renin activity ratio [aldosterone renin ratio (ARR)] in hypertensive patients, and if this affects the identification of primary aldosteronism (PA). DESIGN This was a prospective evaluation of consecutive hypertensive patients referred nationwide to specialized hypertension centers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sitting PAC, plasma renin activity, and the ARR, baseline and after 50 mg captopril orally with concomitant assessment of parameters, including BMI and daily sodium intake, were calculated. RESULTS Complete biochemical data and a definite diagnosis were obtained in 1125 consecutive patients. Of them 999 had primary (essential) hypertension (PH) and 126 (11.2%) PA caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma in 54 (4.8%). BMI independently predicted PAC (beta = 0.153; P < 0.0001) in PH, particularly in the overweight-obese, but not in the PA group. Covariance analysis and formal comparison of the raw, and the BMI-, sex-, and sodium intake-adjusted ARR with receiver operator characteristic curves, showed no significant improvement for the discrimination of aldosterone-producing adenoma from PH patients with covariate-adjusted ARR. CONCLUSIONS BMI correlated with PAC independent of age, sex, and sodium intake in PH, but not in PA patients. This association of BMI is particularly evident in overweight-obese PH patients, and suggests a pathophysiological link between visceral adiposity and aldosterone secretion. However, it does not impact on the diagnostic accuracy of the ARR for discriminating PA from PH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- DMCS-Clinica Medica 4, University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, Padua, Italy.
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Rossi GP, Belfiore A, Bernini G, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Palumbo G, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Agabiti-Rosei E, Pessina AC, Mantero F. Comparison of the Captopril and the Saline Infusion Test for Excluding Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma. Hypertension 2007; 50:424-31. [PMID: 17592070 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.091827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We performed a prospective head-to-head comparison of the accuracy of the captopril test (CAPT) and the saline infusion test (SAL) for confirming primary aldosteronism due to an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) in patients with different sodium intake. A total of 317 (26.9%) of the 1125 patients screened in the Primary Aldosteronism Prevalence in Italy Study underwent both CAPT and SAL. They were composed of the patients with a high aldosterone/renin ratio baseline and 1 every 4 patients without such criterion. The accuracy of post-CAPT or post-SAL plasma aldosterone values for diagnosing APA was estimated with the area under the receiver operator characteristics curves. Primary aldosteronism was found in 120 patients, of which 46 had an APA. No untoward effect occurred with either test. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of plasma aldosterone for both tests was higher (
P
<0.0001) than that under the diagonal, but the between-test difference was borderline significant (
P
=0.054). The optimal aldosterone cutoff value for identifying APA was 13.9 and 6.75 ng/dL for the CAPT and SAL, respectively. Even at these cutoffs, sensitivity and specificity were moderate because of overlap of values between patients with and without APA. When examined in relation to sodium intake, the accuracy of the SAL surpassed that of the CAPT in the patients with a sodium intake ≤130 mEq per day; this difference waned at a higher Na
+
intake. Thus, both the CAPT and the SAL are safe and moderately accurate for excluding APA; at a sodium intake >7.6 g per day, the SAL offers no advantage over the easier-to-perform CAPT.
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Rossi GP, Belfiore A, Bernini G, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Montemurro D, Palumbo G, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Semplicini A, Agabiti-Rosei E, Pessina AC, Mantero F. Prospective evaluation of the saline infusion test for excluding primary aldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma. J Hypertens 2007; 25:1433-42. [PMID: 17563566 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0b013e328126856e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data on the performance of the tests used to confirm the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) are limited. OBJECTIVE To prospectively investigate the accuracy of the saline infusion test (SIT). METHODS Three hundred and seventeen (26.9%) out of 1125 patients screened in the PAPY study underwent measurement of plasma aldosterone, cortisol and renin activity after infusion of 2 l of isotonic saline intravenously over 4 h. They comprised patients with a baseline aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) > 40 and one every four patients not fulfilling such criterion. The area under the receiver-operator characteristic curves (AUC) of aldosterone values after SIT was used as a measure of accuracy for diagnosing PA, aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) or idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). RESULTS One hundred and twenty (37.9%) patients had PA that was due to an APA in 46 (38.3%) and to IHA in 74 (61.7%). No untoward effect occurred with the SIT. The AUC (0.811 +/- 0.026, 0.878 +/- 0.040 and 0.784 +/- 0.034 for identification of PA, APA and IHA, respectively) was higher (P < 0.0001) than that under the diagonal. By sensitivity/specificity versus criterion values plot, the best aldosterone cut-off values for identifying APA and IHA were 6.75 and 6.91 ng/dl, respectively. However, even at these optimal cut-offs, sensitivity and specificity were moderate because of values overlapping between patients with and without the disease. Moreover, there were no differences of AUC and aldosterone cut-offs between APA and IHA. CONCLUSION In a multicenter study the SIT was safe and specific for excluding PA, but had no place for discriminating between an APA and IHA.
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Rossi GP. New concepts in adrenal vein sampling for aldosterone in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. Curr Hypertens Rep 2007; 9:90-7. [PMID: 17442218 DOI: 10.1007/s11906-007-0017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Improved diagnostic techniques and adoption of a systematic and thorough diagnostic workup can lead to identification of the surgically correctable forms of primary aldosteronism (PA) far more frequently than expected. Adrenalectomy can provide long-term normalization of blood pressure and correction of PA in most patients with an aldosterone-producing adenoma. Forms needing surgical correction are generally held to be less common than forms requiring medical therapy; however, this can be a misconception arising from the lack of systematic use of adrenal vein sampling (AVS). Currently AVS still remains the "gold standard" for identifying unilateral causes of PA that are surgically curable. The criteria for selecting patients to undergo AVS, the technique for performing AVS, and the criteria for analyzing and interpreting its results are summarized here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Internal Medicine 4, University Hospital, Via Giustiniani, 2, Padova, Italy.
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Abstract
Mineralocorticoid hypertension is hypertension associated with the presence of hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and suppression of plasma renin. Mineralocorticoid hypertension represents only 10% of patients with essential hypertension. However, its recognition is important because it is a potentially reversible cause of hypertension. Primary hyperaldosteronism is the most common form of mineralocorticoid hypertension. It is current clinical practice to use the plasma aldosterone-renin ratio and the absolute plasma aldosterone level as screening tests. Confirmatory suppression tests and adrenal imaging are performed in appropriate patients. Three monogenic forms of mineralocorticoid hypertension have been identified including Liddle's syndrome, glucocorticoid-remediable hypertension, and apparent mineralocorticoid excess. In a number of patients with mineralocorticoid hypertension, hypokalemia can be a variable finding. This review highlights mineralocorticoid biology and important features of primary hyperaldosteronism and monogenic hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neenoo Khosla
- Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Rossi GP, Bernini G, Caliumi C, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Ganzaroli C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Mattarello MJ, Moretti A, Palumbo G, Parenti G, Porteri E, Semplicini A, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Boscaro M, Pessina AC, Mantero F. A prospective study of the prevalence of primary aldosteronism in 1,125 hypertensive patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006; 48:2293-300. [PMID: 17161262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.07.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 952] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2006] [Revised: 07/13/2006] [Accepted: 07/23/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We prospectively investigated the prevalence of curable forms of primary aldosteronism (PA) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. BACKGROUND The prevalence of curable forms of PA is currently unknown, although retrospective data suggest that it is not as low as commonly perceived. METHODS Consecutive hypertensive patients referred to 14 hypertension centers underwent a diagnostic protocol composed of measurement of Na+ and K+ in serum and 24-h urine, sitting plasma renin activity, and aldosterone at baseline and after 50 mg captopril. The patients with an aldosterone/renin ratio >40 at baseline, and/or >30 after captopril, and/or a probability of PA (by a logistic discriminant function) > or =50% underwent imaging tests and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) or adrenocortical scintigraphy to identify the underlying adrenal pathology. An aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) was diagnosed in patients who in addition to excess autonomous aldosterone secretion showed: 1) lateralized aldosterone secretion at AVS or adrenocortical scintigraphy, 2) adenoma at surgery and pathology, and 3) a blood pressure decrease after adrenalectomy. Evidence of excess autonomous aldosterone secretion without such criteria led to a diagnosis of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). RESULTS A total of 1,180 patients (age 46 +/- 12 years) were enrolled; a conclusive diagnosis was attained in 1,125 (95.3%). Of these, 54 (4.8%) had an APA and 72 (6.4%) had an IHA. There were more APA (62.5%) and fewer IHA cases (37.5%) at centers where AVS was available (p = 0.002); the opposite occurred where AVS was unavailable. CONCLUSIONS In newly diagnosed hypertensive patients referred to hypertension centers, the prevalence of APA is high (4.8%). The availability of AVS is essential for an accurate identification of the adrenocortical pathologies underlying PA.
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Rossi GP, Taddei S, Ghiadoni L, Virdis A, Zavattiero S, Favilla S, Versari D, Sudano I, Azizi M, Vedie B, Pessina AC, Salvetti A, Jeunemaitre X. Tissue kallikrein gene polymorphisms induce no change in endothelium-dependent or independent vasodilation in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. J Hypertens 2006; 24:1955-63. [PMID: 16957554 DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000244943.34546.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tissue kallikrein (TK) generates Lys-bradykinin, which is then converted to bradykinin and releases nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells via B2 receptors. TK gene inactivation in mice causes severe endothelial dysfunction, which is also a hallmark of human primary hypertension (PH). Healthy carriers of a loss-of-function Arg to His substitution at position 53 (R53H) of the TK gene exhibit paradoxical arterial eutrophic remodeling. We therefore investigated the impact of this and other TK gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV) and endothelium-independent vasodilatation (EIV) in PH patients and normotensive (NT) subjects. METHODS The TK gene SNPs were genotyped blind to the phenotype by sequencing. We compared EDV and EIV vasodilatation across TK genotypes in 131 uncomplicated PH patients and 51 healthy NT subjects. EDV and EIV were assessed as the forearm blood flow response to a graded infusion of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. We also evaluated the impact of the SNPs on NO-mediated EDV and on reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NO breakdown with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine or vitamin C, respectively. RESULTS Genotypes and allele frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and similar in PH and NT. EDV was lower in PH patients than in NT subjects. No TK genotype affected either EDV or EIV per se, or via interaction with gender and age. NO inhibition and scavenging of ROS showed no TK genotype effect on EDV. Similar conclusions were obtained with haplotype analysis. CONCLUSIONS These results do not support the contention that TK gene SNPs have a major impact in determining NO-mediated responses to acetylcholine.
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Rossi GP, Bernini G, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mannelli M, Matterello MJ, Montemurro D, Palumbo G, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Pessina AC, Mantero F. Renal damage in primary aldosteronism: results of the PAPY Study. Hypertension 2006; 48:232-8. [PMID: 16801482 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000230444.01215.6a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 352] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PA) has been associated with cardiovascular hypertrophy and fibrosis, in part independent of the blood pressure level, but deleterious effects on the kidneys are less clear. Likewise, it remains unknown if the kidney can be diversely involved in PA caused by aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). Hence, in the Primary Aldosteronism Prevalence in Italy (PAPY) Study, a prospective survey of newly diagnosed consecutive patients referred to hypertension centers nationwide, we sought signs of renal damage in patients with PA and in comparable patients with primary hypertension (PH). Patients (n = 1180) underwent a predefined screening protocol followed by tests for confirming PA and identifying the underlying adrenocortical pathology. Renal damage was assessed by 24-hour urine albumin excretion (UAE) rate and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). UAE rate was measured in 490 patients; all had a normal GFR. Of them, 31 (6.4%) had APA, 33 (6.7%) had IHA, and the rest (86.9%) had PH. UAE rate was predicted (P < 0.001) by body mass index, age, urinary Na+ excretion, serum K+, and mean blood pressure. Covariate-adjusted UAE rate was significantly higher in APA and IHA than in PH patients; there were more patients with microalbuminuria in the APA and IHA than in the PH group (P = 0.007). Among the hypertensive patients with a preserved GFR, those with APA or IHA have a higher UAE rate than comparable PH patients. Thus, hypertension because of excess autonomous aldosterone secretion features an early and more prominent renal damage than PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinica Medica 4, University Hospital, via Giustiniani, 2, 35126 Padova, Italy.
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Rossi GP, Ganzaroli C, Miotto D, De Toni R, Palumbo G, Feltrin GP, Mantero F, Pessina AC. Dynamic testing with high-dose adrenocorticotrophic hormone does not improve lateralization of aldosterone oversecretion in primary aldosteronism patients. J Hypertens 2006; 24:371-9. [PMID: 16508586 DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000202818.10459.96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diagnosing aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) involves a demonstration of the lateralization of aldosterone oversecretion because adrenal incidentalomas are common in hypertensive individuals and many small-sized APA escape identification with available imaging techniques. However, because of the pulsatile pattern of aldosterone secretion this can be a difficult undertaking. Stimulation of aldosterone secretion before adrenal vein sampling (AVS) can overcome this difficulty, but anecdotal data exist. We, therefore, prospectively investigated the usefulness of AVS with dynamic testing in primary aldosteronism (PA) patients. METHODS We enrolled 24 consecutive consenting patients with a biochemical diagnosis of PA from a tertiary referral centre to measure the effects of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) on selectivity, the lateralization of aldosterone secretion to the APA side, and adverse effects. After correcting the hypokalemia we performed bilateral AVS. After 3 h supine resting, blood was simultaneously obtained from both sides. A high-dose ACTH (250 mug intravenous) bolus was then administered and AVS was repeated after 30 min. RESULTS AVS was bilaterally selective in 88% of patients; no adverse effects occurred. Of the 21 patients with bilaterally selective AVS, three had idiopathic hyperaldosteronism and 18 an APA that was surgically removed in 12 with an ensuing fall in blood pressure at follow-up. After ACTH patients showed a significant increase (P = 0.007) of aldosterone from contralateral adrenal vein blood, but not from the APA gland. Therefore, lateralization of aldosterone secretion on the APA side did not improve. CONCLUSION AVS is safe and accurate for identifying APA. However, at a statistical power of 99%, these results do not support the usefulness of high-dose ACTH testing to improve the diagnostic accuracy of AVS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- DMCS Internal Medicine 4 bInstitute of Radiology, Legnano, Italy.
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Toniato A, Bernante P, Rossi GP, Pelizzo MR. The Role of Adrenal Venous Sampling in the Surgical Management of Primary Aldosteronism. World J Surg 2006; 30:624-7. [PMID: 16568223 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-005-0482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Primary aldosteronism is the most common endocrine form of secondary hypertension, but no single test or imaging method always identifies it. Identification of a unilateral overproduction of aldosterone due to Conn's adenoma or unilateral hyperplasia is of utmost importance to the surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed our experience with primary aldosteronism in 46 consecutive patients who had undergone adrenalectomy at the Surgical Pathology Institute, University of Padua since 1993. All the patients underwent a CT scan. Adrenal venous sampling was performed in those patients with negative or equivocal findings on imaging studies. RESULTS Computed tomography was non-contributory in 12 patients and frankly misleading in 2 patients, demonstrating a probable mass lesion in the contralateral but not in the ipsilateral adrenal. Eighteen patients had selective venous sampling that was successful in altering the management of 14 cases. Eleven patients who biochemically had an adrenal adenoma, had normal/equivocal CT, while the remaining 3 had bilateral or contralateral adrenal masses. Venous sampling localized aldosterone secretion and an adenoma, less than 1 cm in diameter, was removed, curing their hypertension. Eleven patients were treated by open adrenalectomy and 35 by the lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. Histological examination revealed 45 Conn's adenomas, of which 13 had a diameter of less than 1 cm (range 0.3-0.8), and 1 case of nodular hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS Patients who have equivocal or unexpected CT findings should proceed to hormonal localization. Adrenal venous sampling is essential in patients with equivocal CT scans to avoid unnecessary and inappropriate adrenalectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Toniato
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua 35128, Italy.
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Young WF. Adrenal Cortex Hypertension. Hypertension 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7216-0258-5.50165-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Plouin PF, Amar L, Chatellier G. Trends in the prevalence of primary aldosteronism, aldosterone-producing adenomas, and surgically correctable aldosterone-dependent hypertension. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2004; 19:774-7. [PMID: 15031328 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfh112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- DMCS-Clinica Medica 4, University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35126 Padua, Italy.
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Abstract
Primary aldosteronism affects 5-13% of patients with hypertension. Patients with hypertension and hypokalemia and most patients with treatment-resistant hypertension should undergo screening for primary aldosteronism with a plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity ratio. A high plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity ratio is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants confirmatory testing. For those patients that want to pursue a surgical cure, the accurate distinction between the subtypes (unilateral vs. bilateral adrenal disease) of primary aldosteronism is a critical step. The subtype evaluation may require one or more tests, the first of which is imaging the adrenal glands with computed tomography, followed by selective use of adrenal venous sampling. Because of the deleterious cardiovascular effects of aldosterone, normalization of circulating aldosterone or aldosterone receptor blockade should be part of the management plan for all patients with primary aldosteronism. Unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy is an excellent treatment option for patients with unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma. Bilateral idiopathic hyperaldosteronism should be treated medically. In addition, aldosterone-producing adenoma patients may be treated medically if the medical treatment includes mineralocorticoid receptor blockade.
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Abstract
Since its initial description in 1955, primary aldosteronism was thought to be a rare cause of hypertension. However, improved screening methods show that primary aldosteronism is a common form of secondary hypertension. Diagnosis of this disorder results in improved or cured hypertension or targeted pharmacotherapy. Patients with hypertension and hypokalemia and most patients with treatment-resistant hypertension should undergo screening for primary aldosteronism. A random and ambulatory ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) to plasma renin activity (PRA) that is elevated and a PAC higher than a set cutoff is a positive screen for primary aldosteronism. An increased PAC/PRA ratio alone is not diagnostic of primary aldosteronism; primary aldosteronism must be confirmed by demonstrating inappropriate aldosterone secretion with either the intravenous saline suppression test or measurement of 24-hr urinary aldosterone while the patient is on a high-sodium diet. The two major subtypes of primary aldosteronism are unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and bilateral idiopathic hyperplasia (IHA). Patients with APA are usually treated with unilateral adrenalectomy, and patients with IHA are treated medically. The subtype evaluation may require one or more tests, the first of which is imaging the adrenals with computerized tomography (CT). When a solitary unilateral macroadenoma (> 1 cm) and normal contralateral adrenal morphologic pattern are found on CT in a young patient with primary aldosteronism, unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a reasonable therapeutic option. However, in many cases, CT imaging may reveal normal-appearing adrenals or ambiguous findings. Adrenal venous sampling helps to resolve these clinical dilemmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Young
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Montori VM, Young WF. Use of plasma aldosterone concentration-to-plasma renin activity ratio as a screening test for primary aldosteronism. A systematic review of the literature. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2002; 31:619-32, xi. [PMID: 12227124 DOI: 10.1016/s0889-8529(02)00013-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aldosterone-renin ratio is widely used to screen for primary aldosteronism. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to establish the test characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios at different cutoff values) of the aldosterone-renin ratio used in screening for primary aldosteronism in subjects with presumed essential hypertension. We searched Medline, EMBASE, and Current Contents databases, bibliographies of retrieved papers, and personal files for all reports published from January 1966 to October 2001. We consulted experts to identify additional published and unpublished reports. We included prospective studies of the ratio as a screening test for primary aldosteronism, without applying language or data availability restrictions. We excluded retrospective studies, case reports, and duplicate or preliminary reports. Working independently, we selected the articles, assessed their quality, and extracted their data. Data extracted included sample size and care setting, description of the testing conditions, description of the confirmatory tests, and the test characteristics of the ratio (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios at different cutoff values). This review includes 16 studies with 3136 participants. None of the studies evaluated the aldosterone-renin ratio and the reference standard independently of each other; only two studies evaluated patients who had a "negative" ratio with the reference standard. Only 16.7% of the subjects had both the ratio and the confirmatory test performed. Ratio cutoff values ranged from 200 to 2774 pmol/L per ng/mL per hour. None of the studies provided valid estimates of the aldosterone-renin ratio test characteristics. There are no published valid estimates of the test characteristics of the aldosterone-renin ratio when used as a screening test for primary aldosteronism in patients with presumed essential hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Montori
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Sidhu S, Bambach C, Pillinger S, Reeve T, Stokes G, Robinson B, Delbridge L. Changing pattern of adrenalectomy at a tertiary referral centre 1970-2000. ANZ J Surg 2002; 72:463-6. [PMID: 12123500 DOI: 10.1046/j.1445-2197.2002.02454.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 1987, a report from this unit described the changing indications for open adrenalectomy over a 15-year period. The indications for adrenalectomy had switched from it being the principal therapeutic procedure used in advanced breast cancer in the early 1970s, to being predominately performed for Cushing's disease or incidental, asymptomatic, adrenal masses by the early 1980s. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the presentation and management of adrenal disease in the last 15 years and to compare these findings with our previously published results. METHODS Information was gathered from a prospective database of all patients undergoing adrenalectomy in the University of Sydney Endocrine Surgical Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 2000. Information was obtained on patient presentation, diagnostic investigations, indications for surgery, procedure performed and surgical outcomes. Prior to 1987, information was gathered by retrospective review of case notes of patients who had undergone adrenalectomy at Royal North Shore Hospital. During the period from 1 January 1970 to 31 December 2000, 236 patients underwent adrenalectomy. Excluding the 68 adrenalectomies performed for breast cancer, left 168 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for functional or non--functional masses. There were 97 (58%) women and 71 (42%) men, with a mean age of 48 years. RESULTS Of the 168 patients, the principal indications for surgery were hyperaldosteronism (32%), phaeochromocytoma (20%), hypercortisolism (20%), incidentaloma (16%), carcinoma (6%) and other reasons (6%). Examination of the number of cases in each pathological group for the periods 1970-1986 and 1987-2000, revealed an 8-fold increase in the number of operations for hyper-aldosteronism, and a 3-fold increase in cases of phaeochromocytoma. The number of operations for the other pathological groups remained steady. The annual incidence of adrenalectomy in the hospital has steadily risen since 1990, with a linear increase in the adrenalectomy rate since the introduction of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in 1995. There were fewer complications in either the open or laparoscopic group since 1987 compared with the pre-1987 cohort. CONCLUSIONS In the past 5 years, there has been a linear increase in the number of adrenalectomies performed in this unit for hyperaldosteronism and to a lesser extent phaeochromocytoma. This is a reflection of increased clinical awareness, improved diagnostic modalities and the advent of laparoscopic adrenalectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stan Sidhu
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
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Rossi GP, Di Bello V, Ganzaroli C, Sacchetto A, Cesari M, Bertini A, Giorgi D, Scognamiglio R, Mariani M, Pessina AC. Excess aldosterone is associated with alterations of myocardial texture in primary aldosteronism. Hypertension 2002; 40:23-7. [PMID: 12105133 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000023182.68420.eb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hyperaldosteronism has been causally linked to myocardial interstitial fibrosis experimentally, but it remains unclear if this link also applies to humans. Thus, we investigated the effects of excess aldosterone due to primary aldosteronism (PA) on collagen deposition in the heart. We used echocardiography to estimate left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and dimensions and for videodensitometric analysis of myocardial texture in 17 consecutive patients with PA and 10 patients with primary (essential) hypertension who were matched for demographics, casual blood pressure, and known duration of hypertension. The groups differed in serum K+, ECG PQ interval duration, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone levels (all P< or =0.002) but not for casual blood pressure values, demographics, and duration of hypertension. Compared with hypertensive patients, PA patients showed a higher LV mass index (53.7+/-1.8 versus 45.5+/-2.0 g/m(2.7); P=0.008) and lower values of the cyclic variation index of the myocardial mean gray level of septum (CVI(s); -12.02+/-5.84% versus 6.06+/-3.08%; P=0.012) and posterior wall (-11.13+/-6.42% versus 8.63+/-9.62%; P=0.012). A regression analysis showed that CVI(s) was predicted by the PQ duration, supine plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and age, which collectively accounted for approximately 36% of CVI(s) variance. PA is associated with alterations of myocardial textures that suggest increased collagen deposition and that can explain both the dependence of LV diastolic filling from presystole and the prolongation of the PQ interval.
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Rossi GP, Cesari M, Chiesura-Corona M, Miotto D, Semplicini A, Pessina AC. Renal vein renin measurements accurately identify renovascular hypertension caused by total occlusion of the renal artery. J Hypertens 2002; 20:975-84. [PMID: 12011659 DOI: 10.1097/00004872-200205000-00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness of indexes derived from renal vein renin measurements. DESIGN A 12-year prospective study. SETTING A tertiary institutional referral centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1988 and 2000, we studied 152 consecutive hypertensive patients with a high pre-test probability of renovascular hypertension (RVH). RVH was diagnosed retrospectively on the basis of reduction in blood pressure after correction of ischaemia at follow-up. Renal vein renin measurements were used to calculate the ratios: Visch/Vctl (renal vein renin ratio; RVRR); Vctl/Viivc; (Visch - Viivc)/Viivc; (Vctl - Viivc)/Viivc, where Visch and Vctl indicate plasma renin activity (PRA) in the ischaemic and contralateral renal veins, respectively, and Viivc denotes PRA in the infrarenal inferior vena cava. A receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off value of renal vein renin measurement indexes that provided the best discrimination between patients with and without RVH and to identify patients with RVH caused by total occlusion of the renal artery. RESULTS Sixty-seven patients were diagnosed as having RVH: 51 had significant renal artery stenoses (RVH non-occluded) and 16 had total renal artery occlusion (RVH occluded). Of the remaining 85 patients in whom RVH was excluded (non-RVH group), 27 had reno-parenchymal hypertension and 58 had essential hypertension. Of the renal vein renin measurement indexes, only RVRR and (Visch - Viivc)/Viivc in RVH-occluded patients differed significantly (P < 0.005) from those in the non-RVH group and showed the best performance by ROC curve analysis. This analysis also showed that, at any cut-off value, RVRR was far more accurate for identification of RVH-occluded patients than for identification of RVH non-occluded patients, both in the subgroup with unilateral and, even more so, in those with bilateral renal artery lesions. The best trade-off between sensitivity and false-positive rate was provided by cut-off values of 1.55 and 1.70 of the RVRR for identification of non-occluded and occluded RVH, respectively. CONCLUSIONS RVRR is more useful for establishing an indication for nephrectomy in patients with renal artery occlusion than for identifying those patients with renal artery stenosis who will benefit from revascularization. In patients with RVH with bilateral renal artery lesions, lateralization of renin secretion occurs only in the presence of total renal artery occlusion. Different cut-off values are necessary for identification of non-occluded and occluded RVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy.
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Rossl A, Baldo-Enzi G, Ganzaroli C, Coscetti G, Calabro A, Baiocchi MR, Maiolino G, Pessina AC, Rossi GP. Relationship of early carotid artery disease with lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein B, and fibrinogen in asymptomatic essential hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. J Investig Med 2001; 49:505-13. [PMID: 11730086 DOI: 10.2310/6650.2001.33627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the relationships between plasma lipids and lipoprotein fractions and carotid artery lesions (CAL) in 177 cerebro-vascularly asymptomatic subjects, of whom 107 were primary hypertensive patients and 70 normotensive controls. METHODS The prevalence and severity of CAL, as assessed by calculating a score of severity (score of CAL) and the maximal stenosis of both sides, as well as the intimal-medial thickness (IMT) were evaluated with a high-resolution echo-Doppler technique. We measured total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], Apo (apolipoprotein)AI, ApoAII, ApoB, and fibrinogen. RESULTS Both the prevalence (59.4% vs 26.2%) and severity of sex- and age-adjusted and unadjusted CAL and IMT were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls. Regression analysis showed different predictors of IMT and maximal stenosis. The variables that remained in the model were age, mean blood pressure (BP), and smoking for IMT; pulse pressure, known duration of hypertension (HT), fibrinogen, and ApoB for the score of CAL; and the last four variables along with age and mean BP for maximal stenosis. Furthermore, we identified a link between the atherogenic lipoprotein fractions Lp(a) and ApoB, fibrinogen and early carotid artery atherosclerotic changes. CONCLUSIONS The different correlates of IMT, CAL, and maximal degree of stenosis suggest that they reflect different events occurring in the arterial wall in response to aging, HT, and other risk factors, rather than simply different stages of the same atherosclerotic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rossl
- Department of Internal Medicine Clinica Medica I, University of Padua, Italy
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Abstract
Primary aldosteronism (PAL) may be as much as ten times more common than has been traditionally thought, with most patients normokalemic. The study of familial varieties has facilitated a fuller appreciation of the nature and diversity of its clinical, biochemical, morphological and molecular aspects. In familial hyperaldosteronism type I (FH-I), glucocorticoid-remediable PAL is caused by inheritance of an ACTH-regulated, hybrid CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene. Genetic testing has greatly facilitated diagnosis. Hypertension severity varies widely, demonstrating relationships with gender, affected parent's gender, urinary kallikrein level, degree of biochemical disturbance and hybrid gene crossover point position. Analyses of aldosterone/PRA/cortisol 'day-curves' have revealed that (1) the hybrid gene dominates over wild type CYP11B2 in terms of aldosterone regulation and (2) correction of hypertension in FH-I requires only partial suppression of ACTH, and much smaller glucocorticoid doses than those previously recommended. Familial hyperaldosteronism type II is not glucocorticoid-remediable, and is clinically, biochemically and morphologically indistinguishable from apparently sporadic PAL. In one informative family available for linkage analysis, FH-II does not segregate with either the CYP11B2, AT1 or MEN1 genes, but a genome-wide search has revealed linkage with a locus in chromosome 7. As has already occurred in FH-I, elucidation of causative mutations is likely to facilitate earlier detection of PAL and other curable or specifically treatable forms of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Stowasser
- Hypertension Unit, University Department of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Qld 4120, Brisbane, Australia.
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