Background-Although unilateral primary aldosteronism is the most common surgically correctable cause of hypertension there are no standard criteria to classify surgical outcomes.

Abstract-Unilateral primary aldosteronism is the most common surgically correctable form of endocrine hypertension and is usually differentiated from bilateral forms by adrenal venous sampling (AVS) or computed tomography (CT

There have been several clinical studies examining the factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA); however, their results have left it unclear whether CVD is affected by the plasma aldosterone concentration or hypokalemia. We assessed the PA database established by the multicenter JPAS (Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study) and compared the prevalence of CVD among patients with PA with that among age-, sex-, and blood pressure-matched essential hypertension patients and participants with hypertension in a general population cohort. We also performed binary logistic regression analysis to determine which parameters significantly increased the odds ratio for CVD. Of the 2582 patients with PA studied, the prevalence of CVD, including stroke (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage), ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction or angina pectoris), and heart failure, was 9.4% (stroke, 7.4%; ischemic heart disease, 2.1%; and heart failure, 0.6%). The prevalence of CVD, especially stroke, was higher among the patients with PA than those with essential hypertension/hypertension. Hypokalemia (K ≤3.5 mEq/L) and the unilateral subtype significantly increased adjusted odds ratios for CVD. Although aldosterone levels were not linearly related to the adjusted odds ratio for CVD, patients with plasma aldosterone concentrations ≥125 pg/mL had significantly higher adjusted odds ratios for CVD than those with plasma aldosterone concentrations <125 pg/mL. Thus, patients with PA seem to be at a higher risk of developing CVD than patients with essential hypertension. Moreover, patients with PA presenting with hypokalemia, the unilateral subtype, or plasma aldosterone concentration ≥125 pg/mL are at a greater risk of CVD and have a greater need for PA-specific treatments than others.

To investigate the prevalence and causes of diabetes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) in a multi-institutional cohort study in Japan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The prevalence of diabetes was determined in 2,210 patients with PA (diagnosed or glycated hemoglobin [HbA 1c ] ‡6.5% [ ‡48 mmol/mol]; NGSP) and compared with that of the Japanese general population according to age and sex. In 1,386 patients with PA and clear laterality (unilateral or bilateral), the effects of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L), suspected subclinical hypercortisolism (SH; serum cortisol ‡1.8 mg/dL after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test), and PA laterality on the prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes (5.7% £ HbA 1c <6.5% [39 mmol/mol £ HbA 1c <48 mmol/mol]) were examined. RESULTS Of the 2,210 patients with PA, 477 (21.6%) had diabetes. This prevalence is higher than that in the general population (12.1%) or in 10-year cohorts aged 30-69 years. Logistic regression or x 2 test revealed a significant contribution of suspected SH to diabetes. Despite more active PA profiles (e.g., higher PAC and lower potassium concentrations) in unilateral than bilateral PA, BMI and HbA 1c values were significantly higher in bilateral PA. PA laterality had no effect on the prevalence of diabetes; however, the prevalence of prediabetes was significantly higher in bilateral than unilateral PA. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with PA have a high prevalence of diabetes, which is associated mainly with SH. The prevalence of prediabetes is greater for bilateral than unilateral PA, suggesting a unique metabolic cause of bilateral PA.

Patients with IHA tend to be obese despite lower PACs than in patients with APA. The present results suggest that obesity-related factors contribute to the pathogenesis of IHA.

Patients with PA with bilateral normal results on CT and normokalemia likely have a low prior probability of a lateralized form of AVS and could be treated medically, whereas those with unilateral disease on CT and hypokalemia have a high probability of a lateralized form of AVS.

The new prediction score has clear advantages over the existing prediction scores in terms of diagnostic accuracy, feasibility, and the potential for generalization in a large population. These data will help healthcare professionals to better select patients who require adrenal venous sampling.

In patients with PA, where the LI is <4 on AVS, CL suppression of aldosterone is an accurate predictor of a unilateral source of aldosterone excess. CL suppression data should be interpreted in conjunction with computed tomographic adrenal imaging findings to guide surgical management.