Solution is not simple; sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in Conn syndrome

PURPOSE

In patients with bilateral primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) and those with unilateral PA who are unwilling or unable to undergo adrenalectomy an increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) provided by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) therapy reflects sufficient antagonism for elevated aldosterone. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) have cardiovascular, renal protective properties and some clinical data have shown an increase in PRA levels with SGLT2-i. Here, we present our experience of using SGLT2-i in PA patients with suppressed PRA despite 100 mg/day spironolactone therapy.

CASES

We prospectively evaluate the laboratory values of seven patients who were diagnosed with bilateral hyperaldosteronism. All of them were diabetic and had an HbA1c <7% with metformin treatment alone. Spironolactone was started in all of the patients after diagnosis and although the dose was increased to 100 mg/day, PRA levels remained <1 ng/ml/h. Metformin treatment was changed to empagliflozin in all patients and PRA was checked again at the sixth month of treatment.

RESULTS

Metformin treatment was changed to empagliflozin in all patients and PRA was checked again at the sixth month of treatment. Mean PRA levels were 0.464 ± 0.189 ng/ml/h before the treatment change and increased to mean 3.257 ± 1.881 ng/ml/h in the sixth month (P = 0.008). The mean PRA was >1 ng/ml/h except for one patient in the sixth month of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Larger molecular and clinical studies are needed to understand whether the increase in PRA after empagliflozin treatment indicates interference, whether spironolactone treatment has become more effective, or whether empagliflozin has aldosterone receptor antagonism apart from its known effects.

Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumor (TART) in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is one of the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorders. Testicular adrenal tumors are significant complications of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. We would like to present two patients of testicular adrenal rest tumors. Patient 1 24 year-old male, he was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia at the age of 8 due to precocious puberty. He received hydro-cortisone treatment until the age of 18. Testicular mass had been detected and right radical orchiectomy had been applied 6 months ago and reported as testicular adrenal rest tumor. In scrotal ultrasound, a mixed type mass lesion (6 × 4x3 cm) covering a large part of left testis was observed. The imaging findings were consistent with adrenal rest tumor. The patient took adrenocorticotropic hormone supressive therapy with dexamethasone 0.75 mg once a day. Patient 2, 38 year-old male, he had been followed-up as adrenal insufficiency for 35 years. He underwent right orchiectomy operation due to the testicular mass in 2010 and the pathological examination revealed Leydig cell tumor. In scrotal ultrasound, small multifocal lesions were detected on the left testis and resection was done. It was reported as testicular adrenal rest tumor. He is being followed-up with glucocorticoid treatment according to androgen and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Early diagnosis of testicular adrenal rest tumor is significant in preventing irreversible testicular damage and infertility. In the differential diagnosis, we should keep in mind that testicular adrenal rest tumor can mimic other testicular tumors such as primary germ cell tumors.