Evidence of Primary Aldosteronism in a Predominantly Female Cohort of Normotensive Individuals: A Very High Odds Ratio for Progression into Arterial Hypertension

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2013-04, Vol.98 (4), p.1409-1416
• Main Authors: Markou, Athina, Pappa, Theodora, Kaltsas, Gregory, Gouli, Aggeliki, Mitsakis, Kostas, Tsounas, Panayiotis, Prevoli, Anastasia, Tsiavos, Vaios, Papanastasiou, Labrini, Zografos, George, Chrousos, George P, Piaditis, George P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenals. Adrenal axis. Renin-angiotensin system (diseases); Adult; Aged; Aldosterone - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Dexamethasone; Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine; Disease Progression; Endocrinopathies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fludrocortisone; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hyperaldosteronism - blood; Hyperaldosteronism - complications; Hyperaldosteronism - epidemiology; Hyperaldosteronism - physiopathology; Hypertension - blood; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - etiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Odds Ratio; Sex Ratio; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-3353

Context: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is an established cause of hypertension, whereas high-normal serum aldosterone levels have been linked to an increased risk for hypertension. Objective: We aimed to define the post-fludrocortisone-dexamethasone suppression test (FDST) normal cutoff values of aldosterone and the aldosterone to renin ratio and evaluate the presence of PA in normotensive individuals. Design: This study was designed as a case-control study. Setting: The study was performed in a tertiary general hospital. Patients: One hundred normotensive participants (80 females), mean age 53 years, were studied. Main Outcome Measures: All participants underwent baseline biochemical and hormonal evaluation, FDST, and adrenal computerized tomography. Blood pressure was assessed at baseline and after 5 years. Results: Sixty-nine participants with normal adrenal computerized tomography who remained normotensive after 5 years were used as a control population to calculate the cutoff values of adequate aldosterone suppression. PA was defined as a combination of post-FDST aldosterone to renin ratio of 0.93 ng/dL · μU/mL or greater (100% sensitivity and 96% specificity) and post-FDST aldosterone of 2.96 ng/dL or greater (100% sensitivity and 61% specificity on receiver-operating characteristic analysis). Thirteen of 100 participants had PA at baseline and 11 (85%) developed hypertension, whereas only 20 of 87 without PA (23%) developed hypertension at 5 years [odds ratio (OR) 18.42, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.76–90.10, P < .0001]. Logistic regression analysis showed a positive relation of PA [odds ratio (OR) 16.30, confidence interval (CI) 1.78–150.30, P = .01] and a negative relation of serum potassium (OR 0.39, CI 0.19–0.79, P = .01) with the development of hypertension. Conclusions: Normotensive PA represents a clinical entity referring to normotensive individuals with PA who are at increased risk for hypertension.