Humans ; Aldosterone ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis* ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/complications* ; Adenoma/diagnosis*

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of secondary hypertension, with its main manifestations including hypertension and hypokalemia. Early identification of PA is extremely important as PA patients can easily develop cardiovascular complications such as atrial fibrillation, stroke, and myocardial infarction. The past decade has witnessed the rapid advances in the genetics of PA, which has shed new light on PA treatment. While surgery is the first choice for unilateral diseases, bilateral lesions can be treated with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). The next-generation non-steroidal MRAs are under investigations. New medications including calcium channel blockers, macrophage antibiotics, and aldosterone synthase inhibitors have provided a new perspective for the medical treatment of PA.
Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/complications* ; Adrenalectomy/adverse effects* ; Aldosterone/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use*

Secondary hypertension occurs in a significant proportion of adult patients (~10%). In young patients, renal causes (glomerulonephritis) and coarctation of the aorta should be considered. In older patients, primary aldosteronism, obstructive sleep apnoea and renal artery stenosis are more prevalent than previously thought. Primary aldosteronism can be screened by taking morning aldosterone and renin levels, and should be considered in patients with severe, resistant or hypokalaemia-associated hypertension. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea should be sought. Worsening of renal function after starting an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor suggests the possibility of renal artery stenosis. Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of secondary causes of hypertension lead to good clinical outcomes and the possible reversal of end-organ damage, in addition to blood pressure control. As most patients with hypertension are managed at the primary care level, it is important for primary care physicians to recognise these conditions and refer patients appropriately.
Aldosterone ; blood ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Aortic Coarctation ; complications ; diagnosis ; Blood Pressure ; Glomerulonephritis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; diagnosis ; Hypertension ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Primary Health Care ; methods ; Referral and Consultation ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; drug therapy ; Renin ; blood ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications

BACKGROUNDHypertension often persists after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA). Many studies have analyzed the outcomes of adrenalectomy for aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) to identify predictive factors for persistent hypertension. However, differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension remain unknown. Our aim was to describe gene expression profile of persistent postoperative hypertension patients with APA.

METHODSIn this study, we described and compared gene expression profiles in persistent postoperative hypertension and postoperative normotension in Chinese patients with APA using microarray analysis. Confirmation was performed with quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Bioinformatic analysis (gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and network analysis) was used for further research.

RESULTSMicroarray analysis identified a total of 99 differentially expressed genes, including 18 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes. Among the dysregulated genes were fat atypical cadherin 1 as well as fatty acid binding protein 4 and other genes that have not been previously studied in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes were associated with lipid metabolic process, metal ion binding, and cell differentiation. Pathway analysis determined that five pathways corresponded to the dysregulated transcripts. The mRNAs-ncRNAs co-expression network was composed of 49 network nodes and 72 connections between 18 coding genes and 31 noncoding genes.

CONCLUSIONSThis study revealed differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA and provided a resource of candidate genes for exploration of possible drug targets and prognostic markers.

Adenoma ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Aldosterone ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis/*etiology ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/instrumentation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Although adrenocortical tumors are common, adrenocortical carcinomas are rare. Moreover, aldosterone-producing adrenocortical carcinomas without hypertension are exceedingly rare, with only two previously reported cases.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/*complications/secretion/surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma/*complications/secretion/surgery ; Adult ; Aldosterone/*secretion ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/*etiology ; Hypertension/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome includes varying combinations of endocrine and non-endocrine tumors. There are also a considerable number of atypical MEN1 syndrome. In this case, a 68-yr-old woman was referred to the Department of Endocrinology for hypercalcemia. Five years ago, she had diagnosed as primary hyperaldosteronism and now newly diagnosed as parathyroid hyperplasia with laboratory and pathologic findings. Hurthle-cell thyroid cancer was also resected during the parathyroid exploration and small meningioma was found on brain MRI. Her general condition has markedly improved and her adrenal mass and meningioma are being closely observed now. We could find the loss of heterozygosity of the MEN1 locus in parathyroid glands, suggesting a MEN1-related tumor, but not a germline mutation. Considering a variety of phenotypic expression and a limitation of current molecular analysis, periodic follow up will be needed in patients with a MEN1-like phenotype.
Aged ; Base Sequence ; Brain/radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/complications/*diagnosis ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningeal Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/radionuclide imaging ; Meningioma/complications/*diagnosis/radionuclide imaging ; Mutation ; Parathyroid Glands/pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Thyroid Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a frequent cause of secondary hypertension and is amenable to surgical intervention when it is caused by aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). Many patients, however, continue to require antihypertensive medications to control their blood pressure after adrenalectomy. The aim of this study was to determine the preoperative factors that predict clinical outcomes after adrenalectomy in patients with APA. We studied 27 patients (mean age 45+/-4 yr) who had APA and underwent unilateral adrenalectomy between December 1995 and September 2008 at our institution. Clinical and biochemical data were evaluated at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 51.8+/-47.0 months (range, 6-159). At the end of the follow-up, 16 patients (59.3%) were considered to experience "complete resolution" without postoperative medications, whereas 7 patients (25.9%) "improved" with medications and 4 patients (14.8%) were "uncontrolled." Three factors (< or =2 antihypertensive medications [P=0.007], duration of hypertension <6 yr [P=0.002], and serum aldosterone <350 pg/mL [P<0.001]) were the predictive for complete resolution in univariate analysis. Multivariate regression analysis showed that serum aldosterone level (<350 pg/mL) was the single most important factor that predicted complete resolution after surgery (P<0.001). The best preoperative clinical factor that predicted resolution of postoperative hypertension after adrenalectomy is serum aldosterone level (<350 pg/mL).
*Adrenalectomy ; *Adrenocortical Adenoma/complications/surgery ; Adult ; Aldosterone/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; *Hyperaldosteronism/complications/surgery ; *Hypertension/etiology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery on the adrenal gland is a highly specific procedure that requires mastery of laparoscopic surgery. From January 2000 to October 2008, 66 laparoscopic adrenalectomies on 65 patients were performed by a single surgeon. This study was done to summarize our experience and to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of the patient records was carried out. The patients' demographics, the tumor characteristics, the open conversion rate, the operating time, the length of the hospital stay and other clinical outcomes were studied. RESULTS: There were 8 conversions out of 65 patients. The indications for surgery included functional tumors in 42 patients (19 pheochromocytomas in 18 patients, 14 patients of primary aldosteronism and 10 patients of Cushing syndrome), and 23 nonfunctional tumors. The average tumor size was 3.5 cm. The mean operating time was 163 min. The average length of the hospital stay was 4.1 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients with no perioperative mortality, and most of the complications could be considered as minor. During follow-up, two patients had adrenal insufficiency and port site hernia, and none had recurrence of hormonal excess. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has several advantages such as minimal postoperative pain, few surgical complications, a short hospital stay and an early return to work. The results confirm that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the procedure of choice for resection of various benign adrenal neoplasms.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenalectomy ; Demography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hernia ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pheochromocytoma ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Return to Work

The metabolic alterations caused by hyperaldosteronism are being increasingly recognized and have generated considerable interest among the medical fraternity. Hyperaldosteronism is suspected to have a pivotal role in the patho-physiology of congestive cardiac failure where it has been studied extensively. But its effects on calcium metabolism, parathyroid metabolism and renal handling of calcium are less well described. Recent experimental models have shed light into the roles played by previously unknown mechanisms in causing these metabolic alterations. We hereby report a case of primary hyperaldosteronism due to adrenal adenoma (Conn's syndrome) who presented with a myriad of clinical features including symptomatic hypocalcemia, significant weight loss along with uncontrolled hypertension for a prolonged period before eventually detected to have primary hyperaldosteronism. Surgical removal of the causative tumor resulted in prompt disappearance of all the symptoms and signs and regain of lost weight.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Adrenocortical Adenoma/*complications/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; *Hyperaldosteronism/complications/etiology/physiopathology ; Hypocalcemia/*etiology ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Outcome