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Huang CW, Tu KH, Fan KC, Tsai CH, Wang WT, Wang SY, Wu CY, Hu YH, Huang SH, Liu HW, Tseng FY, Wu WC, Chang CC, Lin YH, Wu VC, Hwu CM. The role of confirmatory tests in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. J Formos Med Assoc 2024; 123 Suppl 2:S104-S113. [PMID: 37173227 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Confirmatory tests for diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) play an important role in sparing patients with a false-positive aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) screening test from undergoing invasive subtyping procedures. We recommend that patients with a positive ARR test should undergo at least one confirmatory test to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of PA before directly proceeding to subtype studies, except for patients with significant PA phenotypes, including spontaneous hypokalemia, plasma aldosterone concentration >20 ng/dL plus plasma renin activity below a detectable level. Although a gold standard confirmatory test has not been identified, we recommend that saline infusion test and captopril challenge test, which were widely used in Taiwan. Patients with PA have been reported to have a higher prevalence of concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS). ACS is a biochemical condition of mild cortisol overproduction from adrenal lesions, but without the typical clinical features of overt Cushing's syndrome. Concurrent ACS may result in incorrect interpretation of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and may lead to adrenal insufficiency after adrenalectomy. We recommend screening for ACS in patients with PA scheduled for AVS examinations as well as for adrenalectomy. We recommend the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test as screening method to detect ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Wei Huang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, School of Medicine, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Hua Tu
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kang-Chih Fan
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsuan Tsai
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Yi Wang
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hui Hu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Medical Foundation, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Heng Huang
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Han-Wen Liu
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fen-Yu Tseng
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chen Wu
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chin-Chen Chang
- Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hung Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Primary Aldosteronism Center at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vin-Cent Wu
- Primary Aldosteronism Center at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chii-Min Hwu
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Mah D, Kneteman M, Przybojewski SJ, Kotha V, Kline GA, Leung AA, So CB. Multiple radiologist review of adrenal CT still frequently misses lateralized surgical primary aldosteronism. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2024; 26:47-52. [PMID: 38083996 PMCID: PMC10795078 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) have increased morbidity and mortality compared to those with essential hypertension. Accurate detection of lateralized PA is important so that affected patients can receive potentially curative adrenalectomy. However, around 40% of patients with lateralized PA have "normal" adrenal glands on computed tomography (CT). Additional independent review of imaging has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy in many areas of imaging. Therefore, the authors sought to establish if multi-reader re-assessment of previously reported normal CT scans would result in increased detection of surgically remediable disease. The authors found that re-assessment of CT imaging by one, two, or three additional radiologists (or a combination thereof) slightly increased the detection of lateralized disease, but these differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). Readers had low inter-observer agreement (kappa = 0.17). If detection of a discrete nodule on CT was made a prerequisite for adrenal vein sampling (AVS), a second read by another reviewer would still result in an excess of missed cases (84.2%, 36.8%, and 65.8%, respectively, for each of the three independent reviewers). Therefore, a "normal" CT does not preclude the possibility of lateralized PA. Adrenal vein sampling should still be strongly considered wherever available and whenever surgery is considered for treatment of PA, irrespective of CT findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Mah
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | - Mark Kneteman
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | | | - Vamshi Kotha
- Clinical Assistant ProfessorUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | - Gregory A. Kline
- Department of MedicineDivision of Endocrinology and MetabolismUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | - Alexander A. Leung
- Department of MedicineDivision of Endocrinology and MetabolismUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
- Department of Community Health SciencesUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | - C. Benny So
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
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Vaidya A, Hundemer GL, Nanba K, Parksook WW, Brown JM. Primary Aldosteronism: State-of-the-Art Review. Am J Hypertens 2022; 35:967-988. [PMID: 35767459 PMCID: PMC9729786 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpac079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We are witnessing a revolution in our understanding of primary aldosteronism (PA). In the past 2 decades, we have learned that PA is a highly prevalent syndrome that is largely attributable to pathogenic somatic mutations, that contributes to cardiovascular, metabolic, and kidney disease, and that when recognized, can be adequately treated with widely available mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and/or surgical adrenalectomy. Unfortunately, PA is rarely diagnosed, or adequately treated, mainly because of a lack of awareness and education. Most clinicians still possess an outdated understanding of PA; from primary care physicians to hypertension specialists, there is an urgent need to redefine and reintroduce PA to clinicians with a modern and practical approach. In this state-of-the-art review, we provide readers with the most updated knowledge on the pathogenesis, prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of PA. In particular, we underscore the public health importance of promptly recognizing and treating PA and provide pragmatic solutions to modify clinical practices to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Vaidya
- Department of Medicine, Center for Adrenal Disorders, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory L Hundemer
- Department of Medicine (Division of Nephrology) and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kazutaka Nanba
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Wasita W Parksook
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Division of General Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jenifer M Brown
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Carsote M. The Entity of Connshing Syndrome: Primary Aldosteronism with Autonomous Cortisol Secretion. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12112772. [PMID: 36428832 PMCID: PMC9689802 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Connshing syndrome (CoSh) (adrenal-related synchronous aldosterone (A) and cortisol (C) excess) represents a distinct entity among PA (primary hyperaldosteronisms) named by W. Arlt et al. in 2017, but the condition has been studied for more than 4 decades. Within the last few years, this is one of the most dynamic topics in hormonally active adrenal lesions due to massive advances in steroids metabolomics, molecular genetics from CYP11B1/B2 immunostaining to genes constellations, as well as newly designated pathological categories according to the 2022 WHO classification. In gross, PA causes 4-10% of all high blood pressure (HBP) cases, and 20% of resistant HBP; subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS) is identified in one-third of adrenal incidentalomas (AI), while CoSh accounts for 20-30% to 77% of PA subjects, depending on the tests used to confirm autonomous C secretion (ACS). The clinical picture overlaps with PA, hypercortisolemia being mild. ACS is suspected in PA if a more severe glucose and cardiovascular profile is identified, or there are larger tumours, ACS being an independent factor risk for kidney damage, and probably also for depression/anxiety and osteoporotic fractures. It seems that one-third of the PA-ACS group harbours mutations of C-related lines like PRKACA and GNAS. A novel approach means we should perform CYP11B2/CYP11B1 immunostaining; sometimes negative aldosteronoma for CYP11B1 is surrounded by micronodules or cell clusters with positive CYP11B1 to sustain the C excess. Pitfalls of hormonal assessments in CoSh include the index of suspicion (check for ACS in PA patients) and the interpretation of A/C ratio during adrenal venous sample. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice. Post-operative clinical remission rate is lower in CoSh than PA. The risk of clinically manifested adrenal insufficiency is low, but a synthetic ACTH stimulating testing might help to avoid unnecessary exposure to glucocorticoids therapy. Finally, postponing the choice of surgery may impair the outcome, having noted that long-term therapy with mineralocorticoids receptors antagonists might not act against excessive amounts of C. Awareness of CoSh improves management and overall prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Carsote
- Department of Endocrinology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011683 Bucharest, Romania
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Abstract
Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of hypertension and is a risk factor for cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality, via mechanisms mediated by both hypertension and direct insults to target organs. Despite its high prevalence and associated complications, primary aldosteronism remains largely under-recognized, with less than 2% of people in at-risk populations ever tested. Fundamental progress made over the past decade has transformed our understanding of the pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism and of its clinical phenotypes. The dichotomous paradigm of primary aldosteronism diagnosis and subtyping is being redefined into a multidimensional spectrum of disease, which spans subclinical stages to florid primary aldosteronism, and from single-focal or multifocal to diffuse aldosterone-producing areas, which can affect one or both adrenal glands. This Review discusses how redefining the primary aldosteronism syndrome as a multidimensional spectrum will affect the approach to the diagnosis and subtyping of primary aldosteronism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina F Turcu
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Jun Yang
- Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anand Vaidya
- Center for Adrenal Disorders, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Parksook WW, Yozamp N, Hundemer GL, Moussa M, Underhill J, Fudim T, Sacks B, Vaidya A. Morphologically Normal-Appearing Adrenal Glands as a Prevalent Source of Aldosterone Production in Primary Aldosteronism. Am J Hypertens 2021; 35:561-571. [PMID: 34883509 PMCID: PMC9890245 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpab189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Normal-appearing adrenal glands on cross-sectional imaging may still be the source of aldosterone production in primary aldosteronism (PA). METHODS We evaluated the prevalence of aldosterone production among morphologically normal-appearing adrenal glands and the impact of this phenomenon on interpretations of localization studies and treatment decisions. We performed a retrospective cohort study of PA patients with at least 1 normal adrenal gland and reanalyzed contemporary studies to assess interpretations of imaging and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) at the individual patient and adrenal levels. RESULTS Among 243 patients, 43 (18%) had bilateral normal-appearing adrenals and 200 (82%) had a unilateral normal-appearing adrenal, for a total of 286 normal-appearing adrenal glands. 38% of these normal-appearing adrenal glands were a source of aldosteronism on AVS, resulting in discordance between imaging and AVS findings in 31% of patients. Most patients with lateralizing PA underwent curative unilateral treatment (80%); however, curative treatment was pursued in 92% of patients who had concordant imaging-AVS results but in only 38% who had discordant results (P < 0.05). In young patients, imaging-AVS discordance was detected in 32% of those under 45 years and 21% of those under 35 years. Among 20 contemporary studies (including 4,904 patients and 6,934 normal-appearing adrenal glands), up to 64% of normal-appearing adrenals were a source of aldosteronism resulting in 31% of patients having discordant results. CONCLUSIONS Morphologically normal-appearing adrenal glands are commonly the source of aldosterone production in PA, even among young patients. The lack of awareness of this issue may result in inappropriate treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasita W Parksook
- Center for Adrenal Disorders, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Medicine (Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Division of General Internal Medicine), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nicholas Yozamp
- Center for Adrenal Disorders, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory L Hundemer
- Department of Medicine (Division of Nephrology) and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marwan Moussa
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan Underhill
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tali Fudim
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Barry Sacks
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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So C, Leung A, Chin A, Kline G. Adrenal venous sampling in primary aldosteronism: lessons from over 600 single-operator procedures. Clin Radiol 2021; 77:e170-e179. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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