Mild hyperparathyroidism: a novel surgically correctable feature of primary aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND: The parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates aldosterone secretion and cell proliferation in human adrenocortical cells; moreover, in rats hyperaldosteronism was associated with hyperparathyroidism. Hence, PTH could drive aldosterone excess in human primary aldosteronism.
METHOD: To test this hypothesis, we recruited 105 consecutive hypertensive patients, of whom 44 had primary aldosteronism due to an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and 61 had primary (essential) hypertension. We measured the plasma levels of (1-84)-PTH, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, and serum Ca (total and ionized), inorganic P, Mg, K, and the 24-h urinary excretion of Ca, P, and deoxypyridinoline. In primary aldosteronism patients, these measurements were repeated after adrenalectomy or mineralocorticoid receptor blockade. We also sought for PTH receptor (PTHR-1) mRNA and protein in APA tissue.
RESULTS: Compared with primary (essential) hypertension patients, those with primary aldosteronism showed significantly higher plasma PTH (+31%), despite comparable urinary Ca excretion and similarly deficient 25(OH) vitamin D levels. In APA patients, who showed the PTHR-1 transcript and protein in tumor tissue, adrenalectomy normalized PTH levels (from 118 ± 13 to 76 ± 12 ng/l; P = 0.002) and increased ionized Ca(from 1.17 ± 0.04 to 1.22 ± 0.03 mmol/l; P < 0.001). The slope of the inverse PTH/ionized Ca relationship was steeper in primary aldosteronism than in primary (essential) hypertension, but normalized after adrenalectomy.
CONCLUSION: Hence, in primary aldosteronism an increased sensitivity of parathyroid cells to Ca lowering leads to an increase of PTH. This subtle hyperparathyroidism by acting on PTHR-1 in APA might contribute to maintaining hyperaldosteronism despite suppression of angiotensin II formation.