Age-Dependent Progression of Renal Dysfunction After Adrenalectomy for Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas in Japan

In patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs), adrenalectomy causes a rapid decrease in blood pressure and increase in blood potassium levels; however, the effects of these intensive metabolic changes on kidney function with age have not yet been examined in Japan.

To investigate factors related to the progression of kidney dysfunction after adrenalectomy in different age groups.

Fifty Japanese patients with APAs and 27,572 health checkup patients as controls were examined.

We investigated changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after adrenalectomy and characterized patients who progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The postoperative cutoff age of CKD is 50 years and age is a unique factor for the progression of CKD after adrenalectomy. Among preoperative patients, CKD was 6% for those <50 years old and 40% for those ≥50 years old, indicating a higher prevalence of CKD with APAs than in control subjects. Median eGFR <50 mL/min/1.73 m² did not significantly change after adrenalectomy but decreased from 67 to 42 mL/min/1.73 m² in those with APAs ≥50 years old. Patients with APAs ≥50 years old who progressed to CKD showed higher preoperative aldosterone/renin ratios, lower potassium and chloride levels, lower body mass index, and a higher incidence of a history of cardiovascular events and KCNJ5 mutation rates.

Age is the most important predictor of the progression of kidney dysfunction after adrenalectomy in Japanese patients with APAs, particularly those with a history of cardiovascular events and positivity for KCNJ5 mutations.