Restoration of renin-aldosterone dynamics to normal following surgery in primary aldosteronism

Little is known regarding the response of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to dynamic maneuvers after surgical removal of an aldosterone-producing adenoma or whether normal renin-aldosterone relationships are restored following surgery. We utilized maneuvers designed to assess the adequacy of aldosterone suppression and renin stimulation to rapid changes in sodium and fluid volume status to examine these relationships in 21 patients before and after surgery for primary aldosteronism. All patients failed to suppress plasma aldosterone normally after intravenous saline infusion and failed to stimulate renin activity into the normal range following diuretic-induced sodium and volume depletion. No relationship between renin and aldosterone was discerned. The studies were repeated 6 mo. to 4 yrs. after unilateral adrenalectomy in all 21 patients. In every case the normal suppression of aldosterone and stimulation of renin was observed. Moreover a significant (p less than 0.001) relationship between renin and aldosterone was demonstrable. Thus in this population of patients with surgically responsive primary aldosteronism, no abnormality of aldosterone production persisted.