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MRI-based adrenal gland volume is associated with cardiovascular alterations in individuals without prior

Esther Askani1, Susanne Rospleszcz1,2,3,4, Roberto Lorbeer5

  • 1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Scientific Reports
|June 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Increased adrenal gland volume, a marker of chronic stress, is linked to hypertension and left ventricular remodelling in adults. This finding suggests adrenal gland size may serve as an indirect cardiovascular imaging biomarker.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Endocrinology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a crucial role in stress response.
  • Chronic HPA axis activation may impact cardiovascular health.
  • Adrenal gland volume is a potential imaging biomarker for HPA axis activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between adrenal gland volume and cardiovascular health.
  • To explore adrenal gland volume as a novel imaging biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the KORA population-based cohort study.
  • Performed whole-body MRI on 351 participants without known cardiovascular disease.
  • Assessed adrenal gland volume via manual segmentation and cardiac parameters semi-automatically.

Main Results:

  • Adrenal gland volume was significantly associated with hypertension (OR=1.11, p=0.028).
  • Increased adrenal gland volume correlated with left ventricular remodelling index (β=0.01, p=0.011) and left ventricular wall thickness (β=0.06, p=0.005).
  • Adrenal gland volume showed a borderline mediating effect between hypertension and left ventricular remodelling.

Conclusions:

  • MRI-based adrenal gland enlargement is associated with hypertension and left ventricular remodelling.
  • Adrenal gland volume may function as an indirect imaging biomarker for cardiovascular health.
  • This study highlights the link between chronic stress markers and cardiovascular structural changes.

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