Effect of ketanserin in primary aldosteronism

Serotonin is known to have aldosterone-stimulating properties in humans, which are counteracted by the serotonin-antagonist metergoline. Suppression of aldosterone levels by cyproheptadine in patients with idiopathic aldosteronism has also been shown. Since ketanserin, a more specific 5-HT2-serotoninergic (5-HT2) antagonist, has been shown to affect aldosterone secretion in essential hypertension, we have further investigated this mechanism by injecting ketanserin (10 mg i.v.) in 10 patients with primary aldosteronism (four adenoma, six idiopathic aldosteronism). A transient decrease (20% when compared with the basal levels) of plasma aldosterone was seen at 30 min. A concomitant decrease of plasma cortisol was also noticed, whereas plasma renin activity and potassium did not change. Blood pressure decreased in all cases. These observations suggest that ketanserin acts directly at the adrenal level by interfering with a possible modulatory activity of serotonin. However, an adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated effect cannot be completely ruled out at the present time.