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Updated: May 10, 2026
06:08
A Novel Method: Super-selective Adrenal Venous Sampling
Published on: September 15, 2017
Cardiovascular complications associated with primary aldosteronism: a controlled cross-sectional study
Sébastien Savard1, Laurence Amar, Pierre-François Plouin
1Georges-Pompidou European Hospital, Hypertension Unit, Paris, France.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|June 12, 2013
Summary
Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) face higher cardiovascular risks than those with essential hypertension (EH). Early screening for PA is crucial, as it indicates significant target organ damage disproportionate to blood pressure levels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Primary aldosteronism (PA) is linked to increased cardiovascular events compared to essential hypertension (EH).
- Existing evidence is limited by small sample sizes and potential confounding factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of cardiovascular events in patients with PA versus matched controls with EH.
- To investigate target organ damage and cardiovascular complications associated with PA.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 459 PA patients and 1290 EH controls, matched for sex, age, and systolic blood pressure.
- Analysis included biochemical markers (serum potassium, aldosterone, renin) and cardiovascular assessments (ECG, echocardiography).
Main Results:
- PA patients exhibited significantly different hormonal profiles and longer hypertension duration than EH controls.
- Left ventricular hypertrophy was twice as common in PA patients.
- PA was associated with higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
Conclusions:
- Patients with PA have a higher likelihood of cardiovascular complications at diagnosis compared to similar EH patients.
- Disproportionate target organ damage suggests PA and supports broader screening.
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