RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243257
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Comorbidities in Primary Aldosteronism
Publikationsverlauf
received 31.08.2009
accepted 17.11.2009
Publikationsdatum:
04. Januar 2010 (online)

Abstract
Patients presenting with primary aldosteronism experience more cardiovascular events than patients with essential hypertension independent of blood pressure. Therefore, the presence of primary aldosteronism should be detected, not only to determine the cause of hypertension, but also to prevent such complications. This review focuses on human data regarding increased end-organ damage and comorbidities in primary aldosteronism. Special emphasis is put on the effects of aldosterone excess on blood vessels, the heart, the kidney, and the brain. The data reviewed in our article demonstrate that primary aldosteronism is associated with a prevalence of cerebro-, cardiovascular and renal complications that are out of proportion to the blood pressure and benefits substantially from treatment in the long term. In this view, adrenalectomy and aldosterone antagonist treatment seem to be of considerable therapeutic value to control and limit the progression of comorbidities in primary aldosteronism.
Key words
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system - aldosterone - hypertension
References
- 1
Rossi GP, Bernini G, Caliumi C, Desideri G, Fabris B, Ferri C, Ganzaroli C, Giacchetti G, Letizia C, Maccario M, Mallamaci F, Mannelli M, Mattarello MJ, Moretti A, Palumbo G, Parenti G, Porteri E, Semplicini A, Rizzoni D, Rossi E, Boscaro M, Pessina AC, Mantero F.
A prospective study of the prevalence of primary aldosteronism in 1 125 hypertensive
patients.
J Am Coll Cardiol.
2006;
48
2293-2300
MissingFormLabel
- 2
Rayner BL, Opie LH, Davidson JS.
The aldosterone/renin ratio as a screening test for primary aldosteronism.
S Afr Med J.
2000;
90
394-400
MissingFormLabel
- 3
Fardella CE, Mosso L, Gomez-Sanchez C, Cortes P, Soto J, Gomez L, Pinto M, Huete A, Oestreicher E, Foradori A, Montero J.
Primary hyperaldosteronism in essential hypertensives: prevalence, biochemical profile,
and molecular biology.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2000;
85
1863-1867
MissingFormLabel
- 4
Loh KC, Koay ES, Khaw MC, Emmanuel SC, Young WF.
Prevalence of primary aldosteronism among Asian hypertensive patients in Singapore.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2000;
85
2854-2859
MissingFormLabel
- 5
Gordon RD, Stowasser M, Tunny TJ, Klemm SA, Rutherford JC.
High incidence of primary aldosteronism in 199 patients referred with hypertension.
Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol.
1994;
21
315-318
MissingFormLabel
- 6
Lim PO, Dow E, Brennan G, Jung RT, MacDonald TM.
High prevalence of primary aldosteronism in the Tayside hypertension clinic population.
J Hum Hypertens.
2000;
14
311-315
MissingFormLabel
- 7
Gallay BJ, Ahmad S, Xu L, Toivola B, Davidson RC.
Screening for primary aldosteronism without discontinuing hypertensive medications:
plasma aldosterone-renin ratio.
Am J Kidney Dis.
2001;
37
699-705
MissingFormLabel
- 8
Mulatero P, Stowasser M, Loh KC, Fardella CE, Gordon RD, Mosso L, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Veglio F, Young WF.
Increased diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, including surgically correctable forms,
in centers from five continents.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2004;
89
1045-1050
MissingFormLabel
- 9
Schwartz GL, Turner ST.
Screening for primary aldosteronism in essential hypertension: diagnostic accuracy
of the ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity.
Clin Chem.
2005;
51
386-394
MissingFormLabel
- 10
Douma S, Petidis K, Doumas M, Papaefthimiou P, Triantafyllou A, Kartali N, Papadopoulos N, Vogiatzis K, Zamboulis C.
Prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in resistant hypertension: a retrospective
observational study.
Lancet.
2008;
371
1921-1926
MissingFormLabel
- 11
Kaplan NM.
Is there an unrecognized epidemic of primary aldosteronism?.
Con Hypertension.
2007;
50
454-458
MissingFormLabel
- 12
Mosso L, Carvajal C, Gonzalez A, Barraza A, Avila F, Montero J, Huete A, Gederlini A, Fardella CE.
Primary aldosteronism and hypertensive disease.
Hypertension.
2003;
42
161-165
MissingFormLabel
- 13
Calhoun DA, Nishizaka MK, Zaman MA, Thakkar RB, Weissmann P.
Hyperaldosteronism among black and white subjects with resistant hypertension.
Hypertension.
2002;
40
892-896
MissingFormLabel
- 14
Eide IK, Torjesen PA, Drolsum A, Babovic A, Lilledahl NP.
Low-renin status in therapy-resistant hypertension: a clue to efficient treatment.
J Hypertens.
2004;
22
2217-2226
MissingFormLabel
- 15
Strauch B, Zelinka T, Hampf M, Bernhardt R, Widimsky J.
Prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in moderate to severe hypertension in the
Central Europe region.
J Hum Hypertens.
2003;
17
349-352
MissingFormLabel
- 16
Umpierrez GE, Cantey P, Smiley D, Palacio A, Temponi D, Luster K, Chapman A.
Primary aldosteronism in diabetic subjects with resistant hypertension.
Diabetes Care.
2007;
30
1699-1703
MissingFormLabel
- 17
Marney AM, Brown NJ.
Aldosterone and end-organ damage.
Clin Sci (Lond).
2007;
113
267-278
MissingFormLabel
- 18
Rocha R, Funder JW.
The pathophysiology of aldosterone in the cardiovascular system.
Ann N Y Acad Sci U S A.
2002;
970
89-100
MissingFormLabel
- 19
Connell JM, MacKenzie SM, Freel EM, Fraser R, Davies E.
A lifetime of aldosterone excess: long-term consequences of altered regulation of
aldosterone production for cardiovascular function.
Endocr Rev.
2008;
29
133-154
MissingFormLabel
- 20
Taddei S, Virdis A, Mattei P, Salvetti A.
Vasodilation to acetylcholine in primary and secondary forms of human hypertension.
Hypertension.
1993;
21
929-933
MissingFormLabel
- 21
Rizzoni D, Paiardi S, Rodella L, Porteri E, De CC, Rezzani R, Boari GE, Zani F, Miclini M, Tiberio GA, Giulini SM, Rosei CA, Bianchi R, Rosei EA.
Changes in extracellular matrix in subcutaneous small resistance arteries of patients
with primary aldosteronism.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2006;
91
2638-2642
MissingFormLabel
- 22
Rizzoni D, Muiesan ML, Porteri E, Salvetti M, Castellano M, Bettoni G, Tiberio G, Giulini SM, Monteduro C, Garavelli G, Gabiti-Rosei E.
Relations between cardiac and vascular structure in patients with primary and secondary
hypertension.
J Am Coll Cardiol.
1998;
32
985-992
MissingFormLabel
- 23
Holaj R, Zelinka T, Wichterle D, Petrak O, Strauch B, Widimsky J.
Increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in primary aldosteronism
in comparison with essential hypertension.
J Hypertens.
2007;
25
1451-1457
MissingFormLabel
- 24
Bernini G, Galetta F, Franzoni F, Bardini M, Taurino C, Bernardini M, Ghiadoni L, Bernini M, Santoro G, Salvetti A.
Arterial stiffness, intima-media thickness and carotid artery fibrosis in patients
with primary aldosteronism.
J Hypertens.
2008;
26
2399-2405
MissingFormLabel
- 25
Strauch B, Petrak O, Wichterle D, Zelinka T, Holaj R, Widimsky J.
Increased arterial wall stiffness in primary aldosteronism in comparison with essential
hypertension.
Am J Hypertens.
2006;
19
909-914
MissingFormLabel
- 26
Catena C, Colussi G, Nadalini E, Chiuch A, Baroselli S, Lapenna R, Sechi LA.
Cardiovascular outcomes in patients with primary aldosteronism after treatment.
Arch Intern Med.
2008;
168
80-85
MissingFormLabel
- 27
Rossi GP, Sechi LA, Giacchetti G, Ronconi V, Strazzullo P, Funder JW.
Primary aldosteronism: cardiovascular, renal and metabolic implications.
Trends Endocrinol Metab.
2008;
19
88-90
MissingFormLabel
- 28
Rocha R, Stier CT.
Pathophysiological effects of aldosterone in cardiovascular tissues.
Trends Endocrinol Metab.
2001;
12
308-314
MissingFormLabel
- 29
Pitt B, Zannad F, Remme WJ, Cody R, Castaigne A, Perez A, Palensky J, Wittes J.
The effect of spironolactone on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart
failure. Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study Investigators.
N Engl J Med.
1999;
341
709-717
MissingFormLabel
- 30
Pitt B, Remme W, Zannad F, Neaton J, Martinez F, Roniker B, Bittman R, Hurley S, Kleiman J, Gatlin M.
Eplerenone, a selective aldosterone blocker, in patients with left ventricular dysfunction
after myocardial infarction.
N Engl J Med.
2003;
348
1309-1321
MissingFormLabel
- 31
Pitt B, Reichek N, Willenbrock R, Zannad F, Phillips RA, Roniker B, Kleiman J, Krause S, Burns D, Williams GH.
Effects of eplerenone, enalapril, and eplerenone/enalapril in patients with essential
hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: the 4E-left ventricular hypertrophy
study.
Circulation.
2003;
108
1831-1838
MissingFormLabel
- 32
Suzuki T, Abe H, Nagata S, Saitoh F, Iwata S, Ashizawa A, Kuramochi M, Omae T.
Left ventricular structural characteristics in unilateral renovascular hypertension
and primary aldosteronism.
Am J Cardiol.
1988;
62
1224-1227
MissingFormLabel
- 33
Rossi GP, Sacchetto A, Visentin P, Canali C, Graniero GR, Palatini P, Pessina AC.
Changes in left ventricular anatomy and function in hypertension and primary aldosteronism.
Hypertension.
1996;
27
1039-1045
MissingFormLabel
- 34
Rossi GP, Sacchetto A, Pavan E, Palatini P, Graniero GR, Canali C, Pessina AC.
Remodeling of the left ventricle in primary aldosteronism due to Conn's adenoma.
Circulation.
1997;
95
1471-1478
MissingFormLabel
- 35
Tsioufis C, Tsiachris D, Dimitriadis K, Stougiannos P, Missovoulos P, Kakkavas A, Stefanadis C, Kallikazaros I.
Myocardial and aortic stiffening in the early course of primary aldosteronism.
Clin Cardiol.
2008;
31
431-436
MissingFormLabel
- 36
Shigematsu Y, Hamada M, Okayama H, Hara Y, Hayashi Y, Kodama K, Kohara K, Hiwada K.
Left ventricular hypertrophy precedes other target-organ damage in primary aldosteronism.
Hypertension.
1997;
29
723-727
MissingFormLabel
- 37
Catena C, Colussi G, Lapenna R, Nadalini E, Chiuch A, Gianfagna P, Sechi LA.
Long-term cardiac effects of adrenalectomy or mineralocorticoid antagonists in patients
with primary aldosteronism.
Hypertension.
2007;
50
911-918
MissingFormLabel
- 38
Muiesan ML, Salvetti M, Paini A, Gabiti-Rosei C, Monteduro C, Galbassini G, Belotti E, Aggiusti C, Rizzoni D, Castellano M, Gabiti-Rosei E.
Inappropriate left ventricular mass in patients with primary aldosteronism.
Hypertension.
2008;
52
529-534
MissingFormLabel
- 39
Giacchetti G, Ronconi V, Turchi F, Agostinelli L, Mantero F, Rilli S, Boscaro M.
Aldosterone as a key mediator of the cardiometabolic syndrome in primary aldosteronism:
an observational study.
J Hypertens.
2007;
25
177-186
MissingFormLabel
- 40
Porodko M, Auer J, Eber B.
Conn's syndrome and atrial fibrillation.
Lancet.
2001;
357
1293-1294
MissingFormLabel
- 41
Conn JW, Knopf RF.
Clinical characteristics of primary aldosteronism from analysis of 145 cases.
Am J Surg.
1964;
107
159-172
MissingFormLabel
- 42
Abdo A, Bebb RA, Wilkins GE.
Ventricular fibrillation: an extreme presentation of primary hyperaldosteronism.
Can J Cardiol.
1999;
15
347-348
MissingFormLabel
- 43
Nishimura M, Uzu T, Fujii T, Kuroda S, Nakamura S, Inenaga T, Kimura G.
Cardiovascular complications in patients with primary aldosteronism.
Am J Kidney Dis.
1999;
33
261-266
MissingFormLabel
- 44
Milliez P, Girerd X, Plouin PF, Blacher J, Safar ME, Mourad JJ.
Evidence for an increased rate of cardiovascular events in patients with primary aldosteronism.
J Am Coll Cardiol.
2005;
45
1243-1248
MissingFormLabel
- 45
Born-Frontsberg E, Reincke M, Rump LC, Hahner S, Diederich S, Lorenz R, Allolio B, Seufert J, Schirpenbach C, Beuschlein F, Bidlingmaier M, Endres S, Quinkler M.
Cardio- and cerebrovascular comorbidites of hypo- and normokalemic primary aldosteronism:
results of the German Conn's Registry.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2009;
94
1124-1130
MissingFormLabel
- 46
Fallo F, Veglio F, Bertello C, Sonino N, Della MP, Ermani M, Rabbia F, Federspil G, Mulatero P.
Prevalence and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in primary aldosteronism.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2006;
91
454-459
MissingFormLabel
- 47
Duprez DA, Bauwens FR, De Buyzere ML, De Backer TL, Kaufman JM, Van HJ, Vermeulen A, Clement DL.
Influence of arterial blood pressure and aldosterone on left ventricular hypertrophy
in moderate essential hypertension.
Am J Cardiol.
1993;
71
17A-20A
MissingFormLabel
- 48
Lawes CM, Vander HS, Rodgers A.
Global burden of blood-pressure-related disease, 2001.
Lancet.
2008;
371
1513-1518
MissingFormLabel
- 49
Miro O, Pastor P, Pedrol E, Mallofre C, Grau JM, Cardellach F.
Cerebral vascular complications in Conn's disease: report of two cases.
Neurologia.
1995;
10
209-211
MissingFormLabel
- 50
Takeda R, Matsubara T, Miyamori I, Hatakeyama H, Morise T.
Vascular complications in patients with aldosterone producing adenoma in Japan: comparative
study with essential hypertension The Research Committee of Disorders of Adrenal Hormones
in Japan.
J Endocrinol Invest.
1995;
18
370-373
MissingFormLabel
- 51
Mulatero P, Caserta M, Bertello C, Schiavone D, Verhovez A, Giraudo G, Morello F, Veglio F.
Aldosterone as an independent factor in cerebrovascular damage.
Clin Exp Hypertens.
2008;
30
785-797
MissingFormLabel
- 52
Rocha R, Chander PN, Khanna K, Zuckerman A, Stier CT.
Mineralocorticoid blockade reduces vascular injury in stroke-prone hypertensive rats.
Hypertension.
1998;
31
451-458
MissingFormLabel
- 53
Stowasser M, Gordon RD.
Familial hyperaldosteronism.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol.
2001;
78
215-229
MissingFormLabel
- 54
Halimi JM, Mimran A.
Albuminuria in untreated patients with primary aldosteronism or essential hypertension.
J Hypertens.
1995;
13
1801-1802
MissingFormLabel
- 55
Danforth DN, Orlando MM, Bartter FC, Javadpour N.
Renal changes in primary aldosteronism.
J Urol.
1977;
117
140-144
MissingFormLabel
- 56
Irie F, Iso H, Sairenchi T, Fukasawa N, Yamagishi K, Ikehara S, Kanashiki M, Saito Y, Ota H, Nose T.
The relationships of proteinuria, serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate with
cardiovascular disease mortality in Japanese general population.
Kidney Int.
2006;
69
1264-1271
MissingFormLabel
- 57
Tonelli M, Jose P, Curhan G, Sacks F, Braunwald E, Pfeffer M.
Proteinuria, impaired kidney function, and adverse outcomes in people with coronary
disease: analysis of a previously conducted randomised trial.
BMJ.
2006;
332
1426
MissingFormLabel
- 58
Rossi GP, Mantero F, Pessina AC.
Response to Renal Function in Primary Aldosteronism: Is Glomerular Hyperfiltration
a Hallmark of Primary Aldosteronism Further Results from the Primary Aldosteronism?
Prevalence in Hypertension (PAPY) Study.
Hypertension.
2006;
48
e111-e112
MissingFormLabel
- 59
Ribstein J, Du CG, Fesler P, Mimran A.
Relative glomerular hyperfiltration in primary aldosteronism.
J Am Soc Nephrol.
2005;
16
1320-1325
MissingFormLabel
- 60
Sechi LA, Novello M, Lapenna R, Baroselli S, Nadalini E, Colussi GL, Catena C.
Long-term renal outcomes in patients with primary aldosteronism.
JAMA.
2006;
295
2638-2645
MissingFormLabel
- 61
Reincke M, Rump LC, Quinkler M, Hahner S, Diederich S, Lorenz R, Seufert J, Schirpenbach C, Beuschlein F, Bidlingmaier M, Meisinger C, Holle R, Endres S.
Risk Factors Associated with a Low Glomerular Filtration Rate in Primary Aldosteronism.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2009;
94
869-875
MissingFormLabel
- 62
Fox CS, Larson MG, Hwang SJ, Leip EP, Rifai N, Levy D, Benjamin EJ, Murabito JM, Meigs JB, Vasan RS.
Cross-sectional relations of serum aldosterone and urine sodium excretion to urinary
albumin excretion in a community-based sample.
Kidney Int.
2006;
69
2064-2069
MissingFormLabel
- 63
Novello M, Catena C, Nadalini E, Colussi GL, Baroselli S, Chiuch A, Lapenna R, Bazzocchi M, Sechi LA.
Renal cysts and hypokalemia in primary aldosteronism: results of long-term follow-up
after treatment.
J Hypertens.
2007;
25
1443-1450
MissingFormLabel
- 64
Calhoun DA, Nishizaka MK, Zaman MA, Harding SM.
Aldosterone excretion among subjects with resistant hypertension and symptoms of sleep
apnea.
Chest.
2004;
125
112-117
MissingFormLabel
- 65
Pratt-Ubunama MN, Nishizaka MK, Boedefeld RL, Cofield SS, Harding SM, Calhoun DA.
Plasma aldosterone is related to severity of obstructive sleep apnea in subjects with
resistant hypertension.
Chest.
2007;
131
453-459
MissingFormLabel
- 66
Sonino N, Fallo F, Fava GA.
Psychological aspects of primary aldosteronism.
Psychother Psychosom.
2006;
75
327-330
MissingFormLabel
- 67
Khurshid KA, Weaver ME.
Conn's syndrome presenting as depression.
Am J Psychiatry.
2005;
162
1226
MissingFormLabel
- 68
Malinow KC, Lion JR.
Hyperaldosteronism (Conn's disease) presenting as depression.
J Clin Psychiatry.
1979;
40
358-359
MissingFormLabel
- 69
Murck H, Held K, Ziegenbein M, Kunzel H, Koch K, Steiger A.
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in patients with depression compared to controls
– a sleep endocrine study.
BMC Psychiatry.
2003;
3
15
MissingFormLabel
- 70
Emanuele E, Geroldi D, Minoretti P, Coen E, Politi P.
Increased plasma aldosterone in patients with clinical depression.
Arch Med Res.
2005;
36
544-548
MissingFormLabel
- 71
Colussi G, Catena C, Lapenna R, Nadalini E, Chiuch A, Sechi LA.
Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are related to plasma aldosterone levels in
hypertensive patients.
Diabetes Care.
2007;
30
2349-2354
MissingFormLabel
- 72
Marigliano A, Tedde R, Sechi LA, Pala A, Pisanu G, Pacifico A.
Insulinemia and blood pressure. Relationships in patients with primary and secondary
hypertension, and with or without glucose metabolism impairment.
Am J Hypertens.
1990;
3
521-526
MissingFormLabel
- 73
Sechi LA, Melis A, Tedde R.
Insulin hypersecretion: a distinctive feature between essential and secondary hypertension.
Metabolism.
1992;
41
1261-1266
MissingFormLabel
- 74
Shimamoto K, Shiiki M, Ise T, Miyazaki Y, Higashiura K, Fukuoka M, Hirata A, Masuda A, Nakagawa M, Iimura O.
Does insulin resistance participate in an impaired glucose tolerance in primary aldosteronism?.
J Hum Hypertens.
1994;
8
755-759
MissingFormLabel
- 75
Ishimori M, Takeda N, Okumura S, Murai T, Inouye H, Yasuda K.
Increased insulin sensitivity in patients with aldosterone producing adenoma.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf).
1994;
41
433-438
MissingFormLabel
- 76
Haluzik M, Sindelka G, Widimsky J, Prazny M, Zelinka T, Skrha J.
Serum leptin levels in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism before and after treatment:
relationships to insulin sensitivity.
J Hum Hypertens.
2002;
16
41-45
MissingFormLabel
- 77
Catena C, Lapenna R, Baroselli S, Nadalini E, Colussi G, Novello M, Favret G, Melis A, Cavarape A, Sechi LA.
Insulin sensitivity in patients with primary aldosteronism: a follow-up study.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2006;
91
3457-3463
MissingFormLabel
- 78
Mosso LM, Carvajal CA, Maiz A, Ortiz EH, Castillo CR, Artigas RA, Fardella CE.
A possible association between primary aldosteronism and a lower beta-cell function.
J Hypertens.
2007;
25
2125-2130
MissingFormLabel
- 79
Matrozova J, Steichen O, Amar L, Zacharieva S, Jeunemaitre X, Plouin PF.
Fasting plasma glucose and serum lipids in patients with primary aldosteronism: a
controlled cross-sectional study.
Hypertension.
2009;
53
605-610
MissingFormLabel
- 80
Henquin JC.
Triggering and amplifying pathways of regulation of insulin secretion by glucose.
Diabetes.
2000;
49
1751-1760
MissingFormLabel
Correspondence
M. QuinklerMD
Clinical Endocrinology Charité Campus Mitte
Charité University Medicine
Berlin Charitéplatz 1
10117 Berlin
Germany
Telefon: +49 30 450 514152
Fax: +49 30 450 514952
eMail: marcus.quinkler@charite.de