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Published on: September 15, 2017
Volume overload is a major characteristic in primary aldosteronism: a 3-year follow-up study
Eeva Kokko1, Manoj Kumar Choudhary1, Aapo Mutanen1
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University.
Insights
Primary aldosteronism causes excess extracellular water, increasing forward wave amplitude. Targeted treatment normalized volume load and improved hemodynamics, suggesting extracellular water evaluation aids diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Primary aldosteronism is characterized by excessive aldosterone production, leading to hypertension.
- Hemodynamic alterations, including volume balance and wave propagation, are critical in primary aldosteronism.
- Essential hypertension shares some hemodynamic similarities but differs in volume status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hemodynamic changes, specifically volume balance and wave amplitudes, in primary aldosteronism before and after treatment.
- To compare these hemodynamic profiles with essential hypertension and normotensive individuals.
- To identify factors influencing hemodynamic improvements following primary aldosteronism treatment.
Main Methods:
- Radial artery pulse wave analysis and whole-body impedance cardiography were used for hemodynamic recordings.
- Primary aldosteronism was treated via adrenalectomy (unilateral) or spironolactone (bilateral).
- Essential hypertension was managed with standard antihypertensive agents.
Main Results:
- Primary aldosteronism patients exhibited significant extracellular water excess (approximately 10%) compared to other groups, which normalized post-treatment.
- Both primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension showed elevated aortic blood pressure, wave amplitudes, and systemic vascular resistance.
- Treatment effectively reduced these hemodynamic variables, with decreased systemic vascular resistance and extracellular water volume significantly impacting forward wave amplitude reduction.
Conclusions:
- The primary hemodynamic distinction in primary aldosteronism is an elevated volume load, contributing to increased forward wave amplitude.
- Targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism normalizes volume load and improves hemodynamic parameters.
- Routine assessment of extracellular water may improve the identification and diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.
Objectives:
We examined haemodynamics, focusing on volume balance and forward and backward wave amplitudes, before and after 2.8 years of targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism. Patients with essential hypertension and normotensive individuals were examined for comparison ( n = 40 in each group).
Methods:
Recordings were performed using radial artery pulse wave analysis and whole-body impedance cardiography. Unilateral aldosteronism was treated with adrenalectomy ( n = 20), bilateral aldosteronism with spironolactone-based medication ( n = 20), and essential hypertension with standard antihypertensive agents.
Results:
Aortic SBP and DBP, forward and backward wave amplitudes, and systemic vascular resistance were equally elevated in primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension. All these haemodynamic variables were similarly reduced by the treatments. Primary aldosteronism presented with 1 litre (∼10%) extracellular water excess ( P < 0.001) versus the other groups, and this excess was normalized by treatment. Initial pulse wave velocity (PWV) was similarly increased in primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension, but final values remained higher in primary aldosteronism ( P < 0.001). In regression analyses, significant explanatory factors for treatment-induced forward wave amplitude reduction were decreased systemic vascular resistance ( β = 0.380) and reduced extracellular water volume ( β = 0.183). Explanatory factors for backward wave amplitude reduction were changes in forward wave amplitude ( β = 0.599), heart rate ( β = -0.427), and PWV ( β = 0.252).
Conclusion:
Compared with essential hypertension, the principal haemodynamic difference in primary aldosteronism was higher volume load. Volume excess elevated forward wave amplitude, which was subsequently reduced by targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism, along with normalization of volume load. We propose that incorporating extracellular water evaluation alongside routine diagnostics could enhance the identification and diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.
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