Korean J Med.  2012 Apr;82(4):396-402.

Primary Aldosteronism

• Kim SW

Abstract

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by inappropriately high production of aldosterone relatively autonomous from the renin-angiotensin system and no suppression by sodium loading. The prevalence of PA is estimated more than 10% among nonseleted hypertensive patients. PA is clinically very important since patients with PA have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than age- and sex-matched patients with essential hypertension and the same degree of blood pressure elevation. The ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity (ARR) has been generally accepted as a first-line screening test. ARR might be affected by patient age, anti-hypertensive drugs, posture and menstrual cycles. Once the ARR is measured, confirmative test should be performed. Although a gold standard confirmative test for PA is not yet identified, intravenous saline loading test is widely used. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a gold standard for differentiation of unilateral from bilateral forms of PA. Since adrenal CT imaging has limitations to accurate diagnosis of PA, AVS is recommended for all patients who wish to pursue surgical treatment. Although unilateral laparoscopic adernalectomy is the optimal treatment for patients with aldosterone producing adenoma or unilateral hyperplasia, strong evidence linking adernalectomy with improved quality of life, morbidity or mortality is not available. Mneralocorticoid receptor antagonists, spironolactone or eplerenone, are recommended for pharmacologic therapy of PA.

Keyword

Primary aldosteronism; Ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity; Adrenal venous sampling; Unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy

MeSH Terms

Adenoma
Aldosterone
Antihypertensive Agents
Blood Pressure
Female
Humans
Hyperaldosteronism
Hyperplasia
Hypertension
Mass Screening
Menstrual Cycle
Plasma
Posture
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Renin
Renin-Angiotensin System
Sodium
Spironolactone
Aldosterone
Antihypertensive Agents
Renin
Sodium
Spironolactone