OBJECTIVE: To assess blood pressure outcome in patients with primary aldosteronism, who were operated on the basis of a unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography or a lateralized aldosterone hypersecretion detected by adrenal venous sampling, and to analyze the hormonal and nonhormonal factors associated with the outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study of 168 patients with primary aldosteronism undergoing surgery: 109 patients with a unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography and 59 without a unilateral adenoma who underwent surgery because of an aldosterone to cortisol ratio at least five times higher on the dominant side than on the nondominant side. RESULTS: Patients with a unilateral adenoma were more likely to be women, had a shorter history of hypertension and had lower blood pressure levels and treatment scores than patients without a unilateral adenoma. The mean systolic blood pressures of patients with and without unilateral adenomas at follow-up were 133 +/- 16 and 137 +/- 16 mmHg, respectively. Hypertension cure or improvement was observed in 77% (95% confidence interval 69-85%) and 68% (95% confidence interval 56-80%) of patients, respectively. Using a linear regression model, baseline urinary aldosterone was positively associated, and baseline serum potassium was negatively associated, with decrease in systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Adrenalectomy improves blood pressure control in patients with primary aldosteronism operated on the basis of either unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography or a lateralized aldosterone hypersecretion. A high urinary aldosterone excretion and a low serum potassium level predict a more favorable outcome of surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To assess blood pressure outcome in patients with primary aldosteronism, who were operated on the basis of a unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography or a lateralized aldosterone hypersecretion detected by adrenal venous sampling, and to analyze the hormonal and nonhormonal factors associated with the outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study of 168 patients with primary aldosteronism undergoing surgery: 109 patients with a unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography and 59 without a unilateral adenoma who underwent surgery because of an aldosterone to cortisol ratio at least five times higher on the dominant side than on the nondominant side. RESULTS:Patients with a unilateral adenoma were more likely to be women, had a shorter history of hypertension and had lower blood pressure levels and treatment scores than patients without a unilateral adenoma. The mean systolic blood pressures of patients with and without unilateral adenomas at follow-up were 133 +/- 16 and 137 +/- 16 mmHg, respectively. Hypertension cure or improvement was observed in 77% (95% confidence interval 69-85%) and 68% (95% confidence interval 56-80%) of patients, respectively. Using a linear regression model, baseline urinary aldosterone was positively associated, and baseline serum potassium was negatively associated, with decrease in systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Adrenalectomy improves blood pressure control in patients with primary aldosteronism operated on the basis of either unilateral adenoma detected by computed tomography or a lateralized aldosterone hypersecretion. A high urinary aldosterone excretion and a low serum potassium level predict a more favorable outcome of surgery.